Rafael Nadal overcame the challenge from Dominic Thiem and cramps to win his 11th French Open title on Sunday.

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Nadal beat the Austrian 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in a match the he dominated from the very start. This is Nadal's 17th grand slam title. 

The Spanish world number one took his Roland Garros win-loss record to a jaw-dropping 86-2 as he captured his 17th Grand Slam title.

Nadal's triumph marks the sixth consecutive Grand Slam won by either him or 20-times major champion Roger Federer.

The muscular Spaniard had won all 10 of his previous Roland Garros finals and although Thiem was the only man to have beaten him on clay over the past two seasons, the Austrian never threatened the claycourt master on Sunday.

Nadal made a brilliant start winning six points in row and breaking Thiem's first service game to take a 2-0 lead. Thiem returned to break Nadal's serve in the very next game.

However, Thiem had to play at his limit in the first set just to stay in touch with Nadal. While Austrian was broken early and pushed to deuce in each of his service games, Nadal was been largely comfortable on serve.

A mistimed volley into the net by Thiem sent Nadal on his way and the Spaniard raced into a 40-0 lead to secure three set points on the Austrian's serve. Thiem then sent another forehand well long to hand Nadal the first set 6-4.

Thiem was in trouble early in the second set too with Nadal breaking the Austrian to take a 2-0 lead in the second set. Thiem scrapped hard to save four break points but Nadal was relentless. He  kept up the pressure until the seventh seed sent a backhand long to concede the game. Nadal then held to go 3-0 up.

The Spaniard won the second set to open up a 6-4 6-3 lead over Thiem.

Nadal was broke Thiem early in the third set to go 2-1 up. He raced into a 30-0 lead on his own serve before calling for the trainer mid-game, saying he cannot hold his racket.

Back on court after a brief interval, Nadal held to 15 to extend his lead to 3-1.

The Spaniard broke Thiem again before racing into a 40-0 lead to give himself three match points. Thiem clawed his way back to deuce, but Nadal claimed victory on his fifth match point after the Austrian sent a backhand return long.

(With Reuters Inputs)