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Nadal secures fifth French Open crown

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Rafael Nadal regains his French Open crown after defeating Robin Soderling
  • Nadal won comfortably in straight sets 6-4 6-2 6-4
  • The Spaniard also reclaims the world number one ranking with victory
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(CNN) -- Rafael Nadal blew Robin Soderling away to regain his French Open crown and reclaim his status as the game's number one ranked player.

The Spaniard powered past his Swedish opponent 6-4 6-2 6-4 at Roland Garros to secure his fifth French Open title, without dropping a set in the entire tournament

It was Soderling who inflicted Nadal's surprise defeat at last year's event -- before going on to lose to Roger Federer in the final -- but Nadal gained revenge by brushing aside the fifth seed in two hours and 18 minutes.

Nadal won his first break of serve in just the fourth game of the opening set and after he saved a break point with the score at 4-3, he went on to take it 6-4.

Soderling then squandered three break points to go 2-0 up in the second and before long he was made to pay for it, as Nadal won eight points in a row on his way to a double break and a 6-2 triumph.

Nadal showed Soderling no mercy, breaking serve in the opening game of the third set before going on to seal his seventh career Grand Slam.

It capped an unbeaten clay season for the Spaniard, who will usurp Roger Federer as world number one when the new rankings are released on Monday.

Nadal thanked the crowd in Paris for their support and said his victory was "the most emotional moment of my career."

Soderling told the crowd: "I have to congratulate Rafa for his fifth victory. If you continue to play like this you will for sure have chances to win many more. I will come back next year and I hope it will be third time lucky then."