PARIS, June 10 -- Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal powered past Austrian promising star Dominic Thiem in straight sets here on Sunday, claiming his record-extending 11th title along with an eye-catching 86-2 record at Roland Garros.
Following his 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Thiem in men's singles final at the 2018 French Open, Nadal became the second player in history to have won 11 singles titles at any Grand Slam event after Margaret Court, and the first player in the Open Era to have won 11 titles at three different Tour-level events, as he had done at ATP Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open.
Tears were clearly seen in Nadal's eyes when he stood on the podium with trophy in his hand.
"It's difficult to explain because it becomes a little bit natural," he said at the press conference. "I achieved much more than what I ever dreamed. But at the same time, it's true that I went through tough moments, a lot of times in terms of injuries."
Nadal, who led 6-3 in previous head-to-heads, broke Thiem's service in the second game, before the Austrian had his own response to move level at 2-all through a break.
Thiem was the only player to have defeated Nadal on clay prior to Roland Garros for the second straight year, and his quarterfinal victory over Nadal at the Madrid Masters snapped the Spaniard's 50-set winning streak on clay.
He displayed his lethal weapon of single-handed backhand, while being troubled by unfavorable performance on his first serves, conceding the first set 6-4.
Thiem already suffered four double faults despite four aces at the start of the second set, while Nadal maintained all of his serves in the second set to move a step further at 6-3.
Thiem save three break points to hold his service into the third set, but the "King of Clay" responded by fully exhibiting his powerful forehand for astute winners.
Thiem was hampered by his many unforced errors after long rallies. Nadal finished another break in the third game to move in front, while injuring his left middle finger midway through the fourth game. He continued his momentum following the medical timeout, and managed to convert his fifth match point on Thiem's poor backhand in the eighth game.
After claiming his 17th career Grand Slam title, Nadal was set to retain his top position at the latest ATP rankings ahead of archrival Roger Federer.
Nadal also closed the gap on Federer, who won on 20 occasions, on the all-time list for most Grand Slam men's singles titles.
"Let me enjoy this title," Nadal said with a smile. "I have ambition and passion for what I am doing. But I never have been crazy about all this kind of stuff.
"I would love to have 20 like Roger in the future or even more, but being honest, it's something that is not in my mind. What is in my mind now is that I won a very important title for me," he added.
Nadal's victory on Sunday meant that all past six Grand Slam titles have been won by either Federer or himself.
Thiem failed to become the second Austrian player in history to win a Grand Slam title after the 1995 Roland Garros champion Thomas Muster, while having already posted his best result at Grand Slams with a final appearance in Paris and being destined to rise to No. 7 on next week's world rankings.
"It was a special thing for me to play the first Slam finals. But on the other hand, I was pretty calm and I knew that I go into it like it would be any other match," said Thiem.
"I was really fighting and playing from the first to the last moment.
"I'm confident that this was not my last Grand Slam finals, and that's my biggest goal, to get into the next one and then to do it better than today," he added.
Earlier on Sunday, No. 6 seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, both of Czech Republic, lifted the women's doubles trophy after breezing past Japanese duo of Hozumi Eri and Ninomiya Makoto 6-3, 6-3.
体坛英语资讯:U.S. coach expresses excitement ahead of Womens World Cup title defense
国际英语资讯:Netanyahu to leave for Washington, meet Trump on Monday
国内英语资讯:Commemorative envelope issued to mark 55th anniversary of China-French diplomatic ties
微信扫码购在德国赢得IF设计金奖,设计界奥斯卡
国内英语资讯:China, Italy agree to expand legislative exchanges
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Chinas agriculture vice minister elected new head of UN food agency FAO
体坛英语资讯:Manchester City into Cup semis, Liverpool to top of Premier League
体坛英语资讯:Bayern defend top spot in German Bundesliga
国内英语资讯:Leading officials told to set example in Party education campaign
国际英语资讯:Vietnam to launch 5G service soon: minister
《小猪佩奇》性别歧视?伦敦消防局批其用词不当
国际英语资讯:U.S. envoy calls on world to urge Iran to de-escalate tensions
国际英语资讯:Algeria abandons controversial measure of money printing
国际英语资讯:Security Council urges parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint in Gulf region
“车厘子自由”已经out了!今天,你实现“香椿自由”了吗?
国际英语资讯:Italy hails decision to award Winter Olympics 2026 to Milan/Cortina
国际英语资讯:Trump says has no idea about Mueller report timing
国际英语资讯:Pakistan condemns attack on Saudi Arabias Abha airport
体坛英语资讯:Durant back for NBA Finals Game 5
国际英语资讯:Britain invests in health projects aiming to enhance disease treatment
国际英语资讯:Putin says Russia open to dialogue with U.S.
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Chinas plateau province sets new record of surviving solely on clean energy
国际英语资讯:Russias Putin to visit Israel: PM
国际英语资讯:WHO urges for intl support as Ebola cases near 1,000 in D. R. Congo
体坛英语资讯:Warriors Durant, Bogut to play in game against Spurs
国内英语资讯:Chinese State Councilor guides rescue work after deadly industrial park blast
国内英语资讯:Xi asks business, cultural circles to make more contribution to China-Italy cooperation
体坛英语资讯:Hamilton wins in Canada after Vettel penalty
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Ethnic solidarity brings common prosperity to multi-ethnic province
C罗开了个植发诊所,拯救西班牙的头发与经济