Nadal Makes it Number Six in Paris

Nadal and Borg in 2008 [Julian Finney / Getty]

Rafael Nadal of Spain equalled Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles after defeating Roger Federer 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 in a hard-hitting final at Roland Garros.

The world number one brushed off an early injury concern to move into a commanding two-set lead and seemed to be heading for an easy win.

Some inspired play from Federer caused Nadal to wobble at the end of the third set but the Swiss player could not keep mistakes out of his game and any hopes of an unlikely comeback were soon killed off by the clay court master.

Nadal raced away from his great rival in the fourth set to move level with Borg as the man with the most French Open titles since the tournament became an international event in 1925.

But it had been Federer who took control of the match early on as Nadal was forced to save three break points in his opening service game before finally giving in on the fourth.

Federer consolidated the break and charged into a 5-2 lead, with Nadal's troubles compounded when he called the trainer to attend a heavily-strapped left foot at the change of ends.

Recovery

The 2009 champion had a set point in the next game but sliced a drop shot just wide, with Nadal recovering to hold serve before saving the set by breaking Federer with a brilliant forehand in the next game.

The momentum had now swung firmly in the defending champion's favour and he broke again when Federer looped a forehand out before winning his fifth game in a row to round off the set.

Nadal's run continued as he secured another break in the opening game of the second set as Federer, despite showing flashes of brilliance, committed far too many errors to live with his great rival.

Federer did manage to break back but dropped serve again straight afterwards, with Nadal left serving for the set when the first rain delay of the whole tournament intervened to stop play.

The brief halt in the action breathed new life into Federer, who broke after saving a set point to put the set on course for a tie-break.

But in the breaker, Federer netted a forehand on the first point and the Spaniard did not look back as further errors from the third seed allowed him to run away into a two-set lead.

Deficit

Nadal pounced again in the sixth game of the third set as Federer lashed a forehand into the tramlines at 0-40 down to fall to what everyone thought was an irreversible deficit, but he would go on to dominate the rest of the set.

Nadal was soon faced with three break points on his own serve and a delicate forehand drop shot grabbed the break back for Federer before a service hold restored parity in the set.

The 16-time grand slam champion earned three more break points in the 11th game and converted the second to go a break up, with a dominant hold then taking the match into a fourth set.

Nadal again went 0-40 down in the opening game but fought back for an important hold and subsequently started to dominate on serve once more.

Meanwhile, the errors started to creep back into Federer's game as he dumped a forehand into the net to hand Nadal a break and this time the world number three would not come back.

There was no let up in Nadal's intensity as he broke again in the sixth game before serving out the match to love, securing victory after a three hour and 40 minute long battle.