Rafael Nadal sets new records, becomes oldest French Open champion

Rafael Nadal has proved naysayers wrong yet again. After heading into the French Open 2022 with injury doubts and no titles on clay this season but the World No. 5 blasted past his opponents to win a record-extending 14th Roland Garros title.

Rafael Nadal defeated 8th seed Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in 2 hours and 18 minutes in a one-sided men's singles final to reign supreme on the clay courts of Pairs. Coming through a top-heavy first draw of French Open 2022, Nadal dethroned last year's champion, Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final en route to this 14th title.

At 36, Nadal won his 22nd Grand Slam title, extending his lead over the other two members of the Big 3 of men's singles tennis -- Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic who have 20 Grand Slam titles each.

Nadal also extended his perfect record in the French Open final, continuing his unbeaten run to make it 14-0 at his favorite court in the sport.

At 36, Nadal is breaking records and entering into new avenues. Here are some of the staggering stats that Nadal has managed after winning his 14th Roland Garros title.

. For instance, one of the greatest of all time in tennis, Pete Sampras finished his career with 14 Grand Slam titles. Nadal has 14 at only Roland Garros.

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Nadal became the oldest French Open men's singles champion on Sunday, going past Andres Gimeno's record of 34 years and 305 days from 1972.

. Nadal equalled Novak Djokovic's Open Era record for the most number of Grand Slam titles won by a player above the age of 30 in men's singles tennis - 8.

. Nadal continued his streak of not losing more than one set in his Roland Garros final appearances.

. Nadal extended his Roland Garros record to 112-3. Staggering!

. Nadal holds the Australian Open and the French Open trophies in a season for the first time in his career.

. Nadal came up with a bagel for a record-extending 21st time at Roland Garros and 3rd time in the final.

. Nadal lost only 3 sets in French Open 2022, the 4th time he has done so in a winning run in Paris after 2005, 2006 and 2011.

. Nadal became only the 3rd man in the history to beat 4 players in the top 10 during a winning-run at a Grand Slam. He joins Roger Federer (2017 Australian Open) and Mats Wilander (1982 French Open). Nadal beat Felix Auger-Alissiame, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud en route to the victory.

. Nadal won his 14th French Open title on 5 June -- same date as 1st title in 2005.