Rafael Nadal became only the second man to win five or more French Open titles after beating Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2,6-4 at Roland Garros.

rguably of the season - for the only man who had ever beaten him at Roland Garros. The 24-year-old's victory came in two hours and 18 minutes, ended any doubt over his status as the king of clay, gave him his seventh grand slam title and will see him overtake Roger Federer as world number one tomorrow. Time and again, Soderling thought he had Nadal where he wanted him on Philippe Chatrier Court today.

But the second seed would almost inevitably make him play one more shot or produce a sensational winner as he emulated his 2008 feat of winning the title without dropping a set. Much had been made in the build-up of the impact of the weather, and storms were forecast.

But the match began in bright sunshine, which would have pleased odds-on favourite Nadal.
Soderling, who avenged his own defeat in last year's final by beating Federer on Tuesday, made the more impressive start, holding his opening two service games - more than he managed at the same stage in 2009. He failed to make the most of Nadal errors that gave him 30-40 in game four but had his opponent rattled when the Spaniard challenged a serve at 15-30 in the next, only for umpire Cedric Mourier to disagree.
Nadal nevertheless went on to fashion two break points, taking the second when Soderling suicidally left a crosscourt backhand which he thought was dropping long.
The Swede was playing a high-risk game but began hitting more errors than winners, summed up in game seven when he slumped from 40-0 and had to save two more break points.