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PARIS -- If Rafael Nadal truly was going to be challenged, if his bid for an unprecedented eighth French Open championship would be slowed even a bit, this might have been the moment. Leading by a set and a break 70 minutes into Sundays final against David Ferrer, another generally indefatigable Spaniard, Nadal faced four break points in one game. The last was a 31-stroke exchange, the matchs longest, capped when Nadal absorbed Ferrers strong backhand approach and transformed it into a cross-court backhand passing shot. Ferrer glared at the ball as it flew past and landed in a corner, then smiled ruefully. What else was there to do? Dealing with Nadals defence-to-offence on red clay is a thankless task. His rain-soaked 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ferrer on was Nadals record 59th win in 60 matches at the French Open and made him the only man with eight titles at any Grand Slam tournament. "I never like to compare years, but its true that this year means something very special for me," Nadal said, alluding to the way he managed to come back from a left knee injury that sidelined him for about seven months. "When you have a period of time like I had," he added, "you realize that you dont know if you will have the chance to be back here with this trophy another time." But he does it, year after year. He won four French Opens in a row from 2005-08, and another four in a row from 2010-13. "Rafael was better than me," said Ferrer, who had won all 18 sets hed played the past two weeks to reach his first Grand Slam final at age 31. "He didnt make mistakes." A week past his 27th birthday, Nadal now owns 12 major trophies in all -- including two from Wimbledon, one each from the U.S. Open and Australian Open -- to eclipse Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver and equal Roy Emerson for the third-most in history. Nadal trails only Roger Federers 17 and Pete Sampras 14. "Winning 17 Grand Slam titles, thats miles away," Nadal said with his typical humility. "Im not even thinking about it." This was Nadals first major tournament after a surprising second-round loss at Wimbledon last June. Since rejoining the tour in February, he is 43-2 with seven titles and two runner-up finishes. Hes won his past 22 matches. "For me, its incredible," said Toni Nadal, Rafaels uncle and coach. "When I think of all that Rafael has done, I dont understand it." Lets be plain: No one, perhaps not even Ferrer himself, expected Nadal to lose Sunday. Thats because of Nadals skill on clay, in general, and at Roland Garros, in particular, but also because of how Ferrer had fared against his friend and countryman -- and video-game competitor -- in the past. Ferrer entered Sunday 4-19 against Nadal. On clay, Nadal had 16 consecutive victories over Ferrer, whose only head-to-head win on the surface came the first time they played, in July 2004, when Nadal was 18. Nadal had yet to make his French Open debut then, missing it that year because of a broken left foot. On May 23, 2005, Nadal played his first match at Roland Garros, beating Lars Burgsmuller 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-1 on Court 1, known as the "bullring" because of its oval shape. And so began the reign. Nadal won a record 31 consecutive matches at the French Open until the fourth round in 2009, when Robin Soderling beat him. In 2010, Nadal started a new streak, which currently stands at 28. There was occasional shakiness this year. Nadal lost the first set of each of his first two matches, and was pushed to a tiebreaker to begin his third. His fourth match, a straight-set win against No. 15 Kei Nishikori, "was a major step forward," Nadal said. Still, he barely edged No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic in a thrilling semifinal that lasted more than 4 1/2 hours and ended 9-7 in the fifth set Friday. By any measure, that match was far more enjoyable to take in than the final, akin to dining on a filet mignon accompanied by a well-aged bottle of Bordeaux -- each bite and sip rich, textured -- one day, then grabbing a hot dog and can of soda from a street vendor 48 hours later. Under a leaden sky that eventually would release a steady shower from the second set on, Ferrer felt nerves at the outset, he acknowledged later. But after the players traded early breaks, Ferrer held for a 3-2 lead. Thats when Nadal took over, winning seven games in a row and 12 of 14 to render the ultimate result pretty clear. It was as if he simply decided, "Enough is enough." His court coverage was impeccable, as usual, showing no signs of any problems from that left knee, which was supported by a band of white tape. His lefty forehand whips were really on-target, accounting for 19 of his 35 winners and repeatedly forcing errors from Ferrer. When Nadal did have lapses, he admonished himself, once slapping his forehead with his right palm after pushing a lob wide. But whats demoralizing for opponents is the way Nadal slams the door when they have openings, then rushes through when he gets the slightest chance. He was at his relentless best on key points, including those four break chances for Ferrer at 3-1 in the second set. Immediately after, Nadal broke to 5-1 on a forehand winner down the line. As Nadal prepared to serve in the next game, a man wearing a white mask and carrying a fiery flare jumped out of the stands nearby. The intruder quickly was shoved to the ground by one security guard, while another went to protect Nadal. "I felt a little bit scared at the first moment," Nadal said, "because I didnt see whats going on." It happened within a few minutes of other actions by protesters, including chanting from the upper deck that briefly delayed play. Police said seven people were held for questioning. Nadal got broken in that game, then broke back right away to take the second set. The third set was similar to the first. It was 3-all, then suddenly over. Nadal took the last three games, ending the match with a forehand winner before dropping his racket and falling on his back, leaving a rust-colored smudge on his white shirt and flecks of clay on his stubbled cheeks. Soon he was standing, holding his index finger aloft. Yes, Nadal is No. 1 at the French Open, without a doubt. When the ATP rankings are issued Monday, however, he will be No. 5, due to points he dropped while hurt. Oddly enough, Ferrer will be at No. 4. "Yeah, its strange, no? I lost the final against Rafael, but tomorrow I am going to be No. 4 and him No. 5," Ferrer said with a grin, then delivered his punchline: "I prefer to win here and to stay No. 5." Sorry, David. This is Nadals tournament. Now the question becomes: Is eight enough? Dewan Hernandez Jersey . 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Newcastle have reportedly signed a New Zealand schoolboy rugby union star on the back of just three games in rugby league.Ofa Manuofetoa was spotted by Knights scouts while making his debut in the 13-man game at an under-17 tournament in Rotorua this year, according to stuff.co.nz.The 17-year-old stands at 193cm and 104kg, but played fullback for his Canterbury-based Timaru Boys High School rugby first XV.Ive been studying a booklet with thhe basics (of rugby league) which I am trying to get my head around, Manuofetoa told stuff.ddddddddddddco.nz.Its pretty exciting but I have a lot to learn.I expect it will be tough but I will give it my best shot.He is expected to play with the Knights under-18s before graduating to the Holden Cup for under-20s. ' ' '