Indeed it is a feat that may never be duplicated.
The Spaniard notched his memorable success on a second match point when three-time Grand Slam victor Wawrinka sent a backhand into the net.
"It's truly incredible", Nadal told the crowd.
"If I have pain in my knees, then I know from experience that it's nearly impossible", he said.
Nadal will return to action after a one-week break at the Aegon Championships in London which will be his first tournament on grass leading up to the second Grand Slam of the year - the Wimbledon championships.
"The nerves and adrenaline I feel on this court is impossible to compare". I just won the most important event of the year for me. Nadal also celebrated his fifth Mutua Madrid Open title.
"In 2005, I thought in 2017 I'd be fishing on my boat in Majorca", he said.
Rafael Nadal admits he doubted he'd ever win another Grand Slam title after a three-year drought at the majors and an ongoing battle with injuries and poor form. "I have been very honest with you all the time", he said. I just have to take care to get enough sleep, with the kids and all the other things happening. "There have been some tough moments the last times, injuries, so it's great to have big success like this again".
Having completed an unprecedented feat that seems unlikely to be matched in the near future, we analyse how Nadal - the undisputed "King of Clay" - built a legacy that ensured his place in tennis folklore.
Normal service was resumed as Nadal and Federer met in the main event once again.
Someone just paid $133000 for two tickets to game 5
The Cavaliers like to play a more rugged game using the size and strength of James, Love and Tristan Thompson to their advantage. Still on the court , he and Curry looked into each other's eyes, did a little shake then slapped hands several times .
Nadal swept through the final in two hours and five minutes to extend his all-time lead at Roland Garros, with 10 titles to Bjorn Borg's six in the open era.
If he does so next year, his 11 titles would match what Margaret Court accomplished at the Australian Open in the 1960s and 70s.
Over the past two decades, the French Open has given us more one-slam champions than the other three majors combined: Iva Majoli in 1997, Anastasia Myskina in 2004, Ana Ivanovic in 2008 and Francesca Schiavone in 2010.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash: "I'm totally shocked to see him do it. Rafa could arrive here (at Roland Garros) next year in May with 18".
All those years ago, it was Toni's decision to turn Nadal from a right-hander - his dominant hand outside of tennis - to a lefty.
Wawrinka admitted the daunting mental challenge of facing Nadal on his favourite surface contributed heavily to the crushing defeat.
Grand Slam count aside, the man from Mallorca already has the edge over Federer on a few counts.
That's for sure. But not only here, " said Wawrinka, who lost for the first time in four Grand Slam finals.
Wawrinka insisted a five-set semifinal win Friday over No. 1-ranked Andy Murray did not take anything out of him physically.
"Roger and Rafa, they are very good", said Wawrinka. It says a lot about how bad things are lately for him. "The fact is that the two first matches could be very risky I need to feel strong, low, and have powerful legs to play well in Wimbledon". Jimmy Connors remarked at the time: "His passion and the way he grinds is really something special".
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