This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/10/sports/tennis/nadal-captures-his-eighth-french-open-title.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nadal Captures His Eighth French Open Title Nadal Captures His Eighth French Open Title
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — David Ferrer never looked overwhelmed by the occasion in his first Grand Slam singles final, only overwhelmed by the opponent.PARIS — David Ferrer never looked overwhelmed by the occasion in his first Grand Slam singles final, only overwhelmed by the opponent.
“Nadal, always Nadal,” Ferrer said before Sunday’s match.“Nadal, always Nadal,” Ferrer said before Sunday’s match.
So it seems at Roland Garros, the world’s most prestigious tournament on clay. Rafael Nadal already had set the all-time men’s record last year by winning his seventh French Open singles title. On Sunday, he has put even further space between himself and Bjorn Borg by winning his eighth. So it seems at Roland Garros, the world’s most prestigious tournament on clay. Rafael Nadal already had set the all-time men’s record last year by winning his seventh French Open singles title. On Sunday, he has put more space between himself and Bjorn Borg by winning his eighth.
He did it on a dreary, drizzly afternoon in Paris by defeating Ferrer, his Spanish friend and compatriot, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.He did it on a dreary, drizzly afternoon in Paris by defeating Ferrer, his Spanish friend and compatriot, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
As feared, Sunday’s match was an anticlimax after the emotional and tactical heights that were scaled in the semifinals when Nadal had to rally in the final set to defeat Novak Djokovic 9-7 in the fifth. As feared, Sunday’s match was an anticlimax after the emotional and tactical heights scaled in the semifinals when Nadal had to rally in the final set to defeat Novak Djokovic 9-7 in the fifth.
Ferrer, a 31-year-old seeded No. 4, had not lost a set on his way to the final, but he could not come close to winning a set against Nadal who has dominated their head-to-head rivalry. Ferrer, a 31-year-old seeded No. 4, had not lost a set on his way to the final, but he could not come close to winning a set against Nadal, who has dominated their head-to-head rivalry.
There is no indignity in that, of course. Nadal is the only member of the so-called Big Four to have a head-to-head edge over all the other members of the club: Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.There is no indignity in that, of course. Nadal is the only member of the so-called Big Four to have a head-to-head edge over all the other members of the club: Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
At age 27, he has more years of potential excellence ahead and solving the riddle of Nadal’s game on red clay — whether rain-soaked or sun-soaked — is one of the great conundrums of contemporary sport. At 27, he has more years of potential excellence ahead, and the riddle of Nadal’s game on red clay — whether rain-soaked or sun-soaked — is one of the great conundrums of contemporary sport.
His record at Roland Garros is a very-near-perfect 59-1 with the only loss coming in the fourth round in 2009 against Robin Soderling. His record at Roland Garros is a very-near-perfect 59-1, with the only loss coming in the fourth round in 2009 against Robin Soderling.
“I never realized something like this would be able to happen but now here we are,” Nadal said in his post-match remarks to the crowd, many of whom listened under the cover of umbrellas and ponchos. “I never realized something like this would be able to happen, but now here we are,” Nadal said in his postmatch remarks to the crowd, many of whom listened under the cover of umbrellas and ponchos.
It was a full-wardrobe French Open with the necessary gear ranging from winter jackets to linen shirts; from watchman’s caps to Panama hats. And on Sunday the tournament returned to its first-week habits with chill, gloom and ultimately rain that sometimes resembled a downpour. It was a full-wardrobe French Open, with the necessary gear ranging from winter jackets to linen shirts; from watchman’s caps to Panama hats. And on Sunday the tournament returned to its first-week habits with chill, gloom and ultimately rain that sometimes resembled a downpour.
At one stage early in the third set, Ferrer, warmup jacket zipped up and racket safely stowed away in his bag, looked reluctant to return to the court after a changeover. But after a discussion with chair umpire Cedric Mourier he trotted back to the baseline and resumed fighting against a force majeure. At one stage early in the third set, Ferrer, warm-up jacket zipped up and racket safely stowed away in his bag, looked reluctant to return to the court after a changeover. But after a discussion with a chair umpire, Cedric Mourier, he trotted back to the baseline and resumed fighting against a force majeure.