Nadal matches Federer with 20 Slam titles

PARIS, France (AP):

For years, Rafael Nadal pursued, and achieved, greatness at the French Open and other major tournaments. He never made a big deal out of his trophy total or the way he kept gaining on rival Roger Federer in the Grand Slam standings.

Now, thanks to a flawless performance against Novak Djokovic in the final at Roland Garros yesterday, Nadal is finally there, tied with Federer at 20 major singles championships, more than any other man in tennis history.

Adding to his own French Open record trophy with No. 13 on its red clay, Nadal delivered a remarkably dominant 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 victory over the No. 1-ranked Djokovic.

“He keeps going. No holding him back, it seems like. It’s amazing. I mean, I admire all his achievements,” Djokovic, who had won his last five Grand Slam finals, said. “There’s not much you can say. All the superlatives you can use, he deserves them.”

UNFORGETTABLE STORY

When Nadal ended it with an ace, he dropped to his knees, smiled widely and pumped his arms. It’s the fourth time he’s won his favourite tournament without ceding a set.

“The love story that I have with this city, and with this court, is unforgettable,” Nadal said.

He deflected a question during the on-court, post-match interview about catching Federer, who is 39 and sat out the US Open and French Open after having two operations on his right knee.

“(To) win here means everything to me, no? It’s not the moment, honestly ... (to) think today about the 20th,” Nadal said. “Roland Garros means everything to me. I spent, here, the most important moments – or most of the most important moments — in my tennis career, no doubt about that.”

About an hour after the match ended, Federer posted a congratulatory message on Instagram.

“I have always had the utmost respect for my friend Rafa as a person and as a champion. As my greatest rival over many years, I believe we have pushed each other to become better players,” Federer began, ending with: “I hope 20 is just another step on the continuing journey for both of us. Well done, Rafa. You deserve it.”

Nadal, No. 2 in the rankings, improved to 100-2 at the French Open, including a combined 26-0 in semi-finals and finals, and picked up his fourth consecutive title in Paris. The 34-year-old left-hander from Spain previously put together streaks of four French Open championships from 2005-08, then five in a row from 2010-14, to go alongside his four trophies at the US Open, two at Wimbledon and one at the Australian Open.

Nadal is now even with Federer for the first time since each man had zero Slams to his name in 2003. Federer’s first arrived at Wimbledon that year; Nadal, naturally, earned his first in France in 2005, by which point he trailed 4-0.