Nadal wins record seventh French Open title

Spain's Rafael Nadal beat Serbia's Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to win a record seventh French Open title on Monday.

The number two seed overtook Sweden's Bjorn Borg, who won six Roland Garros titles, and ended Djokovic's hopes of becoming the third man to win four consecutive Grand Slams.

Play had been suspended on Sunday because of rain with the Spaniard a break down in the fourth set, but he broke back in the first game on Monday.

The match was heading towards a fourth-set tiebreak but the number two seed set up a break point in the 12th game and Djokovic's dream ended with a double fault.

Nadal came into the match on Sunday the overwhelming favourite and quickly took it by the scruff, claiming the first two sets.

His rasping forehand winners pierced holes in Djokovic's defensive armour as he looked to be running away with the match, while the Serb was doing all he could just to keep hold of his temper.

He twice showed his petulance by tossing his racket and smashing his chair as he lost control of the second set.

But as the drizzle began to fall and the evening gloom set in, Djokovic launched a resilient revolt and roared in delight as he secured a second break in the third before comfortably closing it out.

It was then the Spaniard's turn to get rattled. Nadal began to lose his cool at the beginning of the fourth as persistent light rain made visibility tough and conditions treacherous underfoot.

It was not just a trophy and a 1.25 million euro ($1.56 million) prizemoney on the line: Djokovic was bidding to become only the third man to win all four Grand Slams consecutively while Nadal was hoping to become the outright holder of the record for Roland Garros titles.

The six-times champion was already a break down when the match referee called players off for the second time at 1651 GMT and despite hopes that play would resume, it was decided to postpone the on-court duel until 1100 on Monday.