How Rafael Nadal achieved a historic ninth title at Roland Garros
In short: In 2014, Rafael Nadal did more than just win a trophy; he rewrote the record books. By defeating Novak Djokovic in a four-set final, he became the first man in the Open Era to secure nine titles at a single major tournament, cementing his dominance on clay.
The 2014 French Open men's singles final was a landmark moment for Rafael Nadal. By defeating Novak Djokovic with a score of 3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–4, Nadal secured his ninth French Open title. Beyond the trophy, this win set new benchmarks: he was the first Open Era player to claim nine titles at one event, beating Guillermo Vilas's record of eight at the Argentina Open. This win also marked Nadal's 14th major title, a feat that tied him with Pete Sampras for second place in the all-time men's singles major titles list.
Nadal's performance at Roland Garros has been characterized by unprecedented consistency. With this victory, his win-loss record at the tournament reached 66–1. Additionally, he achieved a record by winning five straight French Open titles. The final was also a crucial battle for the world No. 1 ranking, which Nadal successfully retained by overcoming Djokovic, who had been his frequent rival at the tournament.
While Nadal dominated the headlines, the tournament saw other significant shifts in the draw. Roger Federer's bid to become the first Open Era man with a double career Grand Slam ended in a fourth-round defeat to Ernests Gulbis. This loss was notable as it was Federer's first defeat at the French Open prior to the quarterfinals since 2004. Additionally, the tournament served as the final major appearance for former world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2014 French Open – Men's singles
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