French Open champions set unprecedented grand slam record
The final day of the French Open witnessed Rafa Nadal demolish World No.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets, which created an unprecedented slice of history in the open era.
Nadal inflicted one of the most humiliating defeats on his great rival in the French Open final on Sunday, thrashing the World No.1 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to lift a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam men’s singles title.
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A day earlier, Iga Swiatek became the first Polish player in tennis history to win a singles grand slam title, shocking the world to triumph at the French Open.
The 19-year-old surprise package swept aside her opponents and only dropped 23 games en route to the final, where she produced another audacious display and won in straight sets.
Nadal also lifted his 13th Grand Slam title without dropping a set, which created tennis history.
The 2020 French Open became the first time in the Open era the women’s and men’s singles champions both won the title without dropping a set.
It has never happened in the Open Era that both men’s and women’s singles champions at a major have won the title without dropping a set.
Swiatek ✅
Nadal - 3 games away #RG20— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) October 11, 2020
Nadal’s imperious and relentless form shocked many after plenty suggested the cold and damp conditions of Paris would favour the World No.1.
But Nadal proved that he was able to overcome any conditions and produced one of his most relentless French Open performances against his long-time rival.
Unfortunately, in the demolition Nadal forced Djokovic in an unwanted carer-first after the King of Clay’s ruthless and relentless performance.
Djokovic annihilated in first set
Never before in Novak Djokovic’s illustrious career had he been handed a bagel in a grand slam final.
The first-set annihilation was the first time Djokovic had lost a set to love in 27 grand slam finals, and just the second time in his whole career.
It set the tone for the whole match as Nadal wiped the floor with Djokovic, handing him just his second loss of 2020 (the other being his default at the US Open).
But despite the embarrassing career-first, Djokovic was classy and humble in defeat.
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