Falling back against the red clay at the end of the men's French Open final, Rafael Nadal celebrated his win in front of cheering fans Sunday.
Nadal clinched the summit clash with an emphatic 6-2,6-3,6-1 win over the third seed Wawrinka.
Agonizingly close to winning a 15th major at the Australian Open in January - he lost to great rival and Wawrinka's fellow Swiss Roger Federer after holding a break lead in the fifth set - there was simply no denying Nadal at Roland Garros as he ended a three-year drought at majors.
Six men in history have claimed seven trophies at the same Grand Slam, including Pete Sampras and Federer, in the Open Era, who won seven Wimbledon titles apiece.
If he does so next year, his 11 titles would match what Margaret Court accomplished at the Australian Open in the 1960s and 70s.
"There is no one in the world who can make you feel more inadequate than Rafa Nadal on this court", said NBC's Mary Carillo, describing Nadal's dominance.
"I try my best in all events, but the feeling that I have here is impossible to describe".
"It's the most important event in my career".
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It was the 22nd Slam finale for Nadal; just the fourth for Wawrinka, the oldest man in the championship match in 44 years.
"When you hesitate on how to play a ball, your legs move later and it's too late".
Nadal's next best was 41 games dropped in winning Roland Garros in 2008.
No matter as he broke through for 4-2 and then went to set point in the eighth game after a relentless forehand barrage sapped the will out of Wawrinka. They let out a burst of claps and roars in the second set on one particularly exquisite display: Wawrinka smacked a cross-court backhand to a corner, and Nadal sprinted to his left to get to the ball, wide of the doubles alley, and whip a forehand that curved around the net post and landed near a line for a victor.
The elegant Black suede upper features bold Orange accents inspired by the Parisian clay on which Rafa has dominated throughout his career, while the X on the heel and insert nods to his record and unmatched performance.
"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".
"Especially to my uncle who has been with me since I was three years old".
"It's really incredible. To win La Decima is very, very special", said Nadal. Even when he was stretched the response was emphatic, one astonishing forehand, whipped from close to the front row of seats to land in a blur of yellow in the corner, drawing gasps from the crowd and applause from Wawrinka.
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