Nadal crushes Ferrer, bags record 8th French Open title

PARIS — Rafael Nadal reasserted his brilliance on the clay court by cruising past compatriot David Ferrer, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, in the French Open finals at Roland Garros stadium in Paris Sunday, becoming the first man to win eight titles at the same Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal broke the men's record for match wins at Roland Garros, where he improved to 59-1, with his lone defeat against Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009.

For fans enthralled by Nadal's semifinal victory over top-ranked Novak Djokovic, Sunday's final may have seemed anticlimactic. But not for the champion, who hit a fallaway forehand winner on championship point, then tumbled to the clay he loves and covered his face to hide his emotions.

Nadal's path to the Roland Garros title was more arduous than usual, and he fell behind in each of his first three matches.