Nadal holds a 15-3 record against Wawrinka in all-time matchups with both men looking to move up in the world rankings.
Rafael Nadal soaks in the crowd's applause after winning his 10th French Open title.
On his way to the title match, he has shipped just 29 games, six fewer than when he made the 2012 final and just two more than the record of 27 conceded by Bjorn Borg in his 1978 trophy season. The feeling I have is impossible to describe. "This is the most important event in my career, without a doubt".
He will step down after being at his nephew's side since boyhood.
Wawrinka is no slouch; he owns three major titles, including one from Roland Garros, and had never lost a Grand Slam final. Nadal also displayed a deft touch on the occasions when he approached the net.
"There is many, many, many good things".
"And because I am 31 already and not a kid anymore".
Nadal has that way of wearing down opponents, physically and mentally.
Nadal was not giving Thiem the chance to show any of the kind of tennis that saw him storm to a straight-sets win over Djokovic in the last eight and a break in the opening game of the third came as another blow to the Austrian's fast-disappearing chances of a maiden grand slam final appearance.
He is not dubbed the "King of Clay" for no reason.
With his 15th title, Nadal would be second all-time in Grand Slam titles.
If he does so next year, his 11 titles would match what Margaret Court accomplished at the Australian Open in the 1960s and 70s.
A lot of tennis players can relate to how Wawrinka feels.
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Wawrinka is well known for his struggles outside major tournaments, and the lead up to Roland Garros 2017 was no different.
They also won the Australian Open in 2015 and this January, along with the U.S. Open last September.
"I think to play Rafa on clay in French Open in a final is probably the biggest challenge you can have in tennis".
PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY: Nadal hit 27 winners and committed just 12 unforced errors during another dominant performance on the Paris clay.
Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during the final against Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka. "I'm pretty sure I've lost my vehicle keys 35 times this year".
"For sure it's going to be really hard, but at the end of the day it's the final". He admitted to nerves.
Nadal was unable to convert four break points in the fourth game. The world's top five players are all aged 30 or over.
He clearly stepped up his game in the second game of the second, adopting a more aggressive stance on the baseline and dictating proceedings.
So Nadal stayed away from that side early, going instead after Wawrinka's forehand. He was now in full flow. After an especially nasty Nadal shot, Wawrinka took his frustration out by biting a tennis ball.
Clay might not have been a graveyard for Federer but, until the arrival of Novak Djokovic to make life uncomfortable for Nadal, it was always on his list.
"On paper, when you look at the scores, it all seems fairly easy", Nadal said.
His play at the French Open hasn't been, that's for sure.
"It's incredible to be in another Roland Garros final", said Wawrinka, the oldest finalist since 33-year-old Niki Pilic was runner-up in 1973.
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