As the backhand of Rafael Nadal floated long to give Dominic Thiem the second set and level the French Open final at one set all, the majority of the 15,000-capacity crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier let out a roar and took to their feet to give the 25-year-old Austrian a standing ovation. Much to their delight, it seemed as though we had a contest.
The emphatic response of Nadal summed up why he has been so dominant at Roland Garros for a period spanning close to a decade and a half. Over the next hour and 15 minutes, the relentless Spaniard lost only two more games, for a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory. At the age of 33, he is the first player to win…
