THREE sets were all Rafael Nadal needed to collect his record 13th Roland Garros title on Sunday, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-0 6-2 7-5 and tying Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams. It was the pair’s 56th career meeting – eighth at Roland Garros – which shaped up for an enticing battle, but it was an outstanding first two sets that set up the victory for Nadal, with the clay court specialist taking charge and ultimately dominating before Djokovic bit back in the third.

“I played at an amazing level of tennis, no?” Nadal said post-match. “For two sets and a half I played great. “I can’t say another thing. “Is impossible to have this score against him without playing great.”

“Playing great” was exactly what Nadal did, breezing through the opening two sets with just two and four unforced errors showcasing the Spaniard’s overwhelming control of proceedings. A 76 per cent efficiency off his first serve got the job done in the first set while his winning ability off his second serve blew Djokovic out of the water in the second, with 75 per cent compared to the Serbian’s 38 per cent.

“I played at my highest level when I needed to play at my highest level, so [that is] something I am very proud of,” he said. “The personal satisfaction is big because under the circumstances that we played this Roland-Garros, even if I played an amazing match this afternoon, the conditions are a little bit not the conditions that I will choose to play an event like this.”

A tight third set would have been expected, but Nadal again weathered the storm to take the final three games for a 7-5 scoreline and the win – a record fourth straight sets victory without dropping a single set all tournament.

Overall, Djokovic hit seven more winners (38-31) but for a whopping 52 unforced errors to Nadal’s clean 14 unforced errors. Nadal was far more effective off his opponent’s serve, winning 51 per cent of the receiving points, and registering four aces and a higher percentage of break points.

“Today you showed why you are the King of Clay,” Djokovic said. “Today I felt it with my own skin.” 

Nadal came across just one seed prior to the final, defeating Diego Schwartzman in the semi final, also defeating a couple of Italians in up-and-comer Jannik Sinner and Stefano Travaglia; Americans, Sebastian Korda and Mackenzie McDonald and Belarusian Egor Gerasimov on the road to Roland Garros victory.