Nadal claims an ‘incredible’ 11th French Open title

Rafael Nadal hailed his 11th French Open title as “just incredible” after he demolished Austria’s Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 despite a worrying injury scare in the closing stages of Sunday’s final.

The 32-year-old world number one now has 17 Grand Slam titles, just three behind great rival Roger Federer.

Nadal endured a nervy conclusion to the final, however, when he needed treatment in the fourth game of the third set for a finger injury before sealing victory on a fifth match point when Thiem fired a backhand long.

“It’s really just incredible. I played a great match against a great player,” said Nadal.

“I had tough moment in the third set with cramps in my hand. I was very scared but that’s sport — it was very humid.

“To win 11 times here — it’s fantastic and not something I ever dreamed of.

“It is always my dream to win this trophy, you all know how important the tournament is to me.

“So I hope to see you all again next year.”

Nadal joins Australia’s Margaret Court as the only player to win 11 titles at the same major.

Victory also took Nadal’s record at Roland Garros to 86 wins and just two losses.

For Thiem, playing in his first Slam final, it was a tremendous letdown for a player who is the only man to have beaten the Spaniard on clay in the last two years.

“Rafa, this is one of the most outstanding things an athlete has achieved in any sport,” said the seventh seed.

“It’s amazing, bravo.

“I saw you win this in 2005 when I was just 11 years old. But I never dreamed of getting the chance to play the final here.”