• French Open, Day 15

Nadal 'honoured' to match Borg's record

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal pose with their trophies © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• What the Deuce: Dirt fighter Nadal shows his tough side
  
• News: Federer claims he is Nadal's master
  
• Features: Backstreet Boy meets Barack Obama
  
• News: Nadal fends off Federer to claim sixth French Open title
  
• Profile: Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal believes it is a 'real honour' to have matched Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open victories.

The Spaniard clinched another victory at Roland Garros with a four-set triumph over Roger Federer on Sunday, moving him level with the Swede on the all-time list of winners at the event in Paris.

Still only 25, Nadal acknowledged he would be back next year to pursue title number seven - to make the record his and his alone.

"For me it's something very special equal the six titles of Bjorn, for sure," Nadal said afterwards. "But for me, the most important thing is win Roland Garros. It's really honor to have this record with him.

"I'm going to keep working to be here next year and to try to play well another time. But today is a day to enjoy this title, because is very difficult win this title.

"Six times are a lot. So seriously, it's a real honor, the comparison with Bjorn."

Nadal, who now has ten grand slam titles to his name, revealed that he feels a great deal of pressure at Roland Garros every year because he believes it to be his best chance of winning a grand slam - and admitted that as a result he considers any season where he wins the event to be a successful one.

"In the grand slams, this is my biggest chance of the year," he said. "If I win this tournament, I know my year is fantastic .To win this title always was very important every season. For me, when I won here, I always had a successful season.

"So in general, this probably the most important tournament of the year for me."

Nevertheless it seemed that the majority of the crowd on Philippe Chatrier were firmly in Federer's corner, but Nadal did not feel that to be the case.

"I think the atmosphere was awesome," he said. "I think the crowd, the people out there were very supportive. Saving the Love-40 of the first game of the fourth [set] was very important for me. That was a big turning point of the match, in my opinion."

Toni Nadal, Rafa's coach, suggested that victory over Robin Soderling (the only man to have ever previously beaten the Spaniard at the French Open) in the quarter-final was the turning point in the tournament.

"For Rafa, everything changed after he defeated Soderling," Toni said. "He had a better attitude and more conviction. He realized it was possible.

"It [the final] was a very complicated match because there were many things at stake: the title, being the best on clay, the [world] No. 1 spot, etc. Borg's record was less important.

"As for the seventh title, we aren't thinking about that now. There is a time for everything. First, we need to take the time to savour this success."

The beaten Federer had nothing but praise for Nadal - the Swiss noting that he had played better than he had in a long time, something he would take encouragement from going into the grass court season.

"Rafa played well and deserved the win today….He's a great champion on clay especially," Federer said. "I feel that even though people wont understand how Rafa was able to win this tournament after the shocking start he had, I'm not. He plays better than the better ones and that's what he showed today.

"I think I played fantastic all the way through. It's unfortunate I don't get the trophy by I still think it was a very good finals today.

"I'm feeling better physically than I have in a long time, so that's been very positive."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.