The King of Clay is back!

And in style! Rafael Nadal wins the French Open title this year, beating Robin Soderling in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Some details that make this win even more amazing:

• With this win, Rafa returns to the #1 ranking!
• This is Rafa's 5th French Open title. Only Bjorn Borg has won it more times (6)
• He now has 7 Grand Slam titles, the same number of slams (singles, that is) that John McEnroe and Mats Wilander have
• He hasn't lost on clay so far this year
• Since the Madrid Masters becoming a clay court event last year, Rafa holds the distinction of winning three clay court Masters titles and the French Open in the same year
  
• He didn't drop a set en route to the title for the second time in his career (he also managed this rare feat back in 2008)
• And while this isn't as important, Rafa avenged his loss in last year's French Open 4th round to Soderling
• He also becomes the first player to qualify for the year-end championships
  

Since Nadal didn't play in Wimbledon last year, he's bound to keep the #1 ranking until after Wimbledon. Here's hoping that Rafa can carry his success on clay into the grass and hard court seasons. Would be great if he can win Wimbledon and end the year #1 again.

*****

This also marks the first time since the French Open 2004 that Roger Federer didn't win or lose to eventual winner of a Grand Slam event (he lost to Soderling who lost to Nadal). So two of Roger's streaks were snapped in this year's French Open. If it's any consolation to Roger, I don't think he will ever see these two streaks broken in his lifetime. I don't even think anyone will come close.