ARTICLES:

• It’s Tough To Be The King (via tennis.com)

This may not have been the best match in what has already become the best rivalry in the history of the Open era. It was the 42nd meeting between the men, and Nadal leads 23-19. He won today despite losing to Djokovic the last four times they’ve met—but Nadal has now won their last four Grand Slam meetings, as well as each of their six clashes at Roland Garros.

• Rafael Nadal Wins Battle For No. 1; Historic Ninth Roland Garros Crown (via ATP World Tour)

Nadal has a 66-1 record at Roland Garros, where he is 35-matches unbeaten. His only loss on Parisian clay came against Robin Soderling in the 2009 fourth round. The Mallorcan has a 90-1 win-loss record in best-of-five-set matches on clay courts. He has now won 64 tour-level titles – 45 of which have come on clay courts – and is only two red dirt titles behind all-time leader Guillermo Vilas (46).

• Nadal soars to Cloud Nine (via Roland Garros)

Victory is cruel, and victory is glorious. The champion supreme sank to his knees on the baseline. Today more than any other, he is on Cloud Nine.

• Nadal Boosts London Chances With Paris Win (via ATP World Tour)

The Mallorcan now travels to the Gerry Weber Open in Halle to begin his grass-court campaign, during which he will look to win a third Wimbledon crown. Nadal completed the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in 2008 and 2010.

• Nadal Denies Djokovic, and Defies Belief, Once Again (via New York Times)

Until Sunday, Djokovic was 35-0 in finals in which he won the opening set, but no lead (or statistic) can truly be safe against Nadal on clay, even when he is missing backhands and forehands by the bunches in the early stages.

• Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic to win ninth French Open title (via BBC)

“The Spaniard is just 67 days older than Roger Federer was when he won his 14th Grand Slam title: his claim last week that a generation is walking away now looks exceedingly premature.”

• Nadal immortalised following ninth Roland Garros victory (via Roland Garros)

Sitting down to type the words “Rafael Nadal has won his ninth title at Roland Garros in the past 10 years” is something quite surreal. But it is true.

• Nadal Simply Unbeatable on Clay (via online.wsj.com)

That’s what makes Nadal Nadal. He was so good as a teenager that he was picked as a favorite to win the French Open the first time he ever played (he did, at age 19). But no one could have predicted then what has happened since. His uncle described it as “unbelievable,” yet he wasn’t willing to say there could never be another Nadal. “I am sure that another can do the same,” he said. “Rafael is not special.” Toni Nadal isn’t wrong about much when it comes to tennis. This time, he is.

• Rafael Nadal clinches record ninth French Open title (via CNN)

“You are a great champion, Rafa,” Sampras said in an email sent to CNN. “Congratulations on number 14.”

• How The Roland Garros Final Was Won: Nadal Upends Djokovic (via ATP World Tour)
• Nadal beats Djokovic for ninth French Open, prevents career Slam (via tennis.com)
• French Open: Rafael Nadal now focused on Wimbledon success (via BBC)

“I want to try to play well again in Wimbledon,” he said. “I’m healthy. That’s the most important thing.”

• The definitive guide to Rafael Nadal’s 19 bizarre tennis rituals (via USA Today)

Rafael Nadal is a fount of quirks, rituals and idiosyncrasies. While they may look like superstitious peculiarities to an outsider, Nadal insists they’re mechanisms to help him focus on tennis. Here’s a definitive list of Nadal’s 19 tennis tics.

• Fifty parting thoughts from the 2014 French Open (via SI.com)

What more can be said about Rafael Nadal? Putting the IX in Prix, he wins his ninth French Open singles title and inches ever close to the summit of Mount Roger Federer and his 17 Grand Slam titles.

• Clay-court king Rafael Nadal is on the verge of becoming the greatest ever (via USA Today)

That’s the beauty of the current men’s game. Every Grand Slam rewrites the history books. On Sunday in Paris, Rafael Nadal added some more to his chapter.

• Emotional Rafael Nadal wins ninth French Open title over Novak Djokovic (via Yahoo)

Nadal’s tears came again with the first notes of the Spanish national anthem. During his on-court speech, he said this: “Days like today, all the things I did to be here were more than (worth it).”

PHOTOS:

• Rafael Nadal Wins French Open, Defeats Novak Djokovic For Historic 9th Title At Roland Garros
• Rafael Nadal celebrates after his win over Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros
• Men’s Final – Trophy Ceremony (via Roland Garros)
• Nadal v Djokovic – Part 1, Part 2 (via Roland Garros)
• Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic in four sets to claim his ninth French Open title (via Daily Mail)
• Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth French Open Title (via Mashable)

VIDEOS:

• Interview with Rafael Nadal
• Highlights from Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic in French Open final
• Nadal ties Sampras with 14th major victory (via NBC)
• Nadal wins 5th straight French Open (via ESPN)
• Wilander: Why conditions suit Nadal so much  (via Eurosport)
• Nadal beats Djokovic in epic final to secure ninth title (via Eurosport)
• Incredible stuff from Nadal and Djokovic (via Eurosport)
• Nadal, Djokovic serve up exhibition of tennis (via Eurosport)
• Nadal’s talent knows no bounds it appears (via Eurosport)
• History: Nadal secures a ninth Roland Garros title (via Eurosport)
• Roland Garros: Trophy presentation (via Eurosport)