Sunday`s 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 victory for his record-equalling sixth Roland Garros crown and his 10th grand slam title overall underlined why Nadal just will not lie down even when the crew and his own initial form are against him.
Nadal endured his first five-set match on the Paris clay in the 1st round but his play gradually improved over the fortnight so that when he came up against Federer and his vocal fans in the final, the worldwide number one was quick to flourish.
He slipped 5-2 down in the maiden set but roared back and dealt with a 10-minute rain interruption to kill what had been a resurgent Federer even on his least favorite clay surface.
Wimbledon starts in only two weeks and yet though Novak Djokovic is a contender after his 41-match winning streak before being halted by Federer in the final four of the French, another Rafa-Roger final is as likely.
"After taking a style like this, you go thither with a different attitude, with really positive confidence," Nadal told reporters.
"So for me, winning here makes me play Queen`s and Wimbledon with less pressure."
At 25, the only realistic blocks to Nadal reaching 16 grand slams are injury, loss of trust and starve or Federer racking up many more major titles of his own.
With Nadal in his way, though, the 29-year-old Swiss is run out of time to greatly increase his sum and the Spaniard is set to bring on for a few more years once fellow great Federer retires.
INJURY RISK
However, Federer did look revitalised during the tournament despite not taking a grand slam since the Australian Open in 2010 and there is still huge push in the maestro yet.
"For me, of course it`s a bit disappointing, but it was a good tournament for me as well. I`ll focus on Wimbledon. This is the second when I can do right things. I`m on the right tracks," he said before acknowledging Nadal`s threat to his record.
"Ten grand slams is a lot. He knows this, I love this, everybody knows this."
Injury is one risk lurking in the shadows which Nadal can never ignore and he must be measured not to cut his vocation by playing too many tournaments in a row as some pundits have accused him of already this year.
His all-action style and way he powers his whole trunk into his shots at every minute is a big form on his knees and his 2009 defeat by Robin Soderling, his only loss at Roland Garros in seven years, was partially due to injury.
If being labelled the best claycourt player ever breeds self-assurance, Nadal was not feel it at the part of the tournament he dominates so heavily.
"I remember during this tournament I was likely a bit more anxious, at least more uneasy than I should have been and more uneasy than usual," the Mallorcan said.
This kind of problem has eaten away at great champions in the preceding when seemingly in their prime.
Most golf commentators expected Tiger Woods to easily overhaul Jack Nicklaus`s record of 18 majors but now the American is stuck on 14 and his accomplishment is by no means certain.
Nadal`s game has been called one-dimensional but he has already won a career grand slam and although he thrives on clay his grasscourt play at Wimbledon just gets better and better.
He is also highly likely to clean up more Australian and U.S. Opens but the accomplishments of Federer still loom large.
"I`m not the better actor in the story of tennis. I guess I`m among the best. That`s true," Nadal murmured
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