'Without my uncle I would not have won 10 trophies'

A crushing 6-2 6-3 6-1 victory over Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final has made Rafael Nadal the most successful player at a single grand slam in the professional era.

The fact that he had to wait three years to claim a 15th major title made it all the sweeter - as did the fact that uncle Toni - his coach since he was six - handed him the Coupe des Mousquetaires in an emotional ceremony on Sunday.

SIMPLY INCREDIBLE: Federer pays tribute to Nadal

ALL-TIME GREATS: Nadal passes Sampras, closes gap on Federer

"It's really incredible. To win La Decima is very, very special," said Nadal.

"I am very emotional. The feeling I have is impossible to describe.

"It's difficult to compare with other tournaments but the nerves and adrenaline I feel, it's like no other place."

Nadal was joined in the presentation by his uncle Toni, his coach since boyhood, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

"Without my uncle I would not have won 10 trophies," said Nadal who will rise to two in the world rankings on Monday.

"For me to be here for many years is difficult to describe. I come back and see people I have a good relationship with and it's very special.

Toni presented Rafa with a replica trophy with all 10 of his French Open titles engraved.

"When the match ended they just asked me if I could come down to have the replica of the trophy," Toni said.

"I was a bit surprised but it was a very nice thing to have happened."

Nadal was forced to pull out of last year's French Open - the tournament he cherishes most - after potential career-threatening damage to his left wrist tendons.

At that time, and with his ranking sliding, his grand slam-winning days seemed numbered.

But in an astonishing resurgence the Mallorcan reached this year's Australian Open final, losing a classic to old sparring partner Roger Federer, and has steamrollered through the European claycourt season, winning a 10th title in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and a fifth in Madrid.

Defeat by Austria's Dominic Thiem in Rome was a minor blip as Nadal went on to enjoy total domination at Roland Garros, emulating his 2008 and 2010 titles when he did not drop a set.

There was no doubt what reclaiming the title on his beloved Parisian clay meant.

"There have been magical things that happened in this tournament for me. So happy for everything," Nadal told a throng of media in a room alongside Court Philippe Chatrier.

"Today was a very important day for me. (There) have been some tough moments with injuries, so it's great to have (a) big success like this again. I've been working a lot to be where I am today.

"For me, every Roland Garros has been very important. You have some that are (more) special than others. Every one is unique.

"But it's true that this one is going to be one of the more special ones for the 10, for what happened in the ceremony after the final, for so many things. And because I am 31 already and not a kid anymore. And for the level of tennis."

Asked what the most difficult moments were during the past fortnight, Nadal was stumped. There really were not any.

with agencies