Perfect 10: Nadal routs Wawrinka for record 10th French Open

Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during the final against Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka at French Open in Roland Garros, Paris on June 11, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

"On paper, when you look at the scores, it all seems fairly easy," Nadal said. "But it's not."No other man or woman has won 10 championships at the same major in the Open era.

Along with improving to 10-0 in finals at Roland Garros, Nadal increased his haul to 15 Grand Slam trophies, breaking a tie with Pete Sampras for second place in the history of men's tennis, behind only rival Roger Federer's 18.

It marked a stirring return to the top for Nadal at the site he loves the most: He is 79-2 at the French Open, 102-2 in all best-of-five-set matches on clay.

"He's playing the best he's ever played. That's for sure," said Wawrinka, who had won 11 matches in a row on clay. "But not only here."True. Nadal leads the tour with four titles and 43 match wins this season and will rise to No. 2 in the ATP rankings Monday.

Last year in Paris, Nadal withdrew before the third round, making the announcement while wearing a blue brace on his left wrist and resignation of his face. He couldn't bring himself to watch much of the rest of the 2016 French Open, he said, other than some doubles matches involving a good pal, and the singles final.

Finally back to full strength in the offseason, Nadal returned to work, reconstructing his forehand and redoubling his efforts to be elite.

"Back in November, when we were together, I told him he needed to get his forehand back, to improve a bit his serve, to put on a champion's face again," said Uncle Toni, gripping his chin for emphasis, "and to become the No. 1 on clay again. And here, we had the confirmation."Nadal is no longer the 19-year-old who won the French Open in his debut in 2005, wearing long white pirate shorts, his flowing locks wrapped by a white headband, his sleeveless shirt revealing bulging biceps. Now he is 31, the shorts are shorter, the hair more closely cropped, the shirt has sleeves. His game? Better.