(Roland Garros, FRA) - 1615 GMT: We're wrapping up our AFP Live Report on the French Open men's singles final between Rafael Nadal and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. Read on for game-by-game details of how Nadal achieved a record-breaking eighth French Open title.
Nadal shrugged off the knee problem that kept him out of the game for seven months and ignored an intrusion onto the court at Roland Garros to race past Ferrer.
Ferrer, four years older than his 27 year-old countryman, was playing his first Grand Slam final but failed to make the most of the occasion as he struggled to contain Nadal's power .
It was Nadal's seventh tournament title of 2013 after returning to the tour in February following the injury lay-off.
1554 GMT: Here are some stats from the match:
Rafael Nadal beat David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in 2hr 16mins:
Nadal-Ferrer:
Aces: 5-1; double-faults: 2-5; First serve percentage: 70 -62; Net points won/played 13/17 vs 10/14
Winners: 35-22; unforced errors: 25-35; breaks/break points: 8/16 vs 3/12
Total points won: 100-72
1546 GMT: Bolt hands the French Open trophy to Raphael Nadal.
1545 GMT: Usain Bolt presents the runner-up's plate to David Ferrer.
1541 GMT: Ferrer says: "I've enjoyed a lot these two weeks. It is the best I have played.
"I would like to say congratulations to Rafa and his team. He's the best."
"I will try my best to have another chance to play in a final and win a Grand Slam. This tournament is very special to me."
1539 GMT: Nadal congratulates Ferrer for his "fantastic" performance in Paris to reach the French Open final for the first time.
"It's his first final. I'm sorry for today!"
1536 GMT: Nadal says his eighth French Open win is "one of the most special" after his seven months out injured.
He thanks his family, his physio and other people "who were there with my during all my career, but especially last year when I had some low moments."
"Thanks also to everyone who sent me messages on Twitter and Facebook. They all gave me positive energy for today."
1529 GMT: Rafael Nadal wins the French Open title by a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 margin.
At 40-15 Nadal has two set points. He's nervous. Why? Is he in pain without admitting it?
Tension builds as he bounces the ball before serving for the first point. He bounces it again. And again. And again.
Finally he serves. Ferrer returns but Nadal smashes the third shot of the rally straight past onlooker Ferrer and Nadal drops on his back while raising his arms at the same to celebrate at unprecedented 8th victory at Roland Garros.
1528 GMT: A Ferrer return lands in the tramline. 30-15 to Nadal - he's two points from victory.
1527 GMT: Nadal serves for the match. Ferrer takes the first point but Nadal secures the second for 15-15.
1525 GMT: Nadal gets a second set point and doesn't waste it this time. He goes 5-3 ahead. In the next game he'll be serving for the match.
1524 GMT: Nadal has a set point in Ferrer's next service game but he sends his return of serve into the tramlines.
1522 GMT: More about the protest a few minutes ago:
An AFP journalist saw four people, all aged around 20 years, being led away from the stadium by security agents.
"We are protesting against the Taubira law (authorising same-sex marriages) because we fear for the future of our children," one of the four shouted out.
1520 GMT: Nadal wins his service game and regains the lead. The match score now is 6-3, 6-2 and 4-3. Excitement builds as Nadal could be just a couple of games away from a record breaking eighth French Open title.
1517 GMT: Ferrer takes a 40-30 leads in Nadal's next service game. It's now or never it he wants to remain in contention. Ferrer wastes the break point with a long ball way over Nadal's back line.
1514 GMT: Ferrer holds his serve to restore an even set score at 3-3.
1513 GMT: Apparently Ferrer will rise above Nadal in the world rankings whatever the result today, because he has done better at this year's French Open than he did at last year's, which now drops out of consideration. Nadal, on the other hand, can at best match his performance in last year's French Open.
1509 GMT: Nadal holds serve for a 3-2 lead in the third set.
1507 GMT: Ferrer's agreement to play on proves a good decision as he wins his service game to level the set at 2-2.
1503 GMT: Ferrer agrees to play on.
1502 GMT: Rain stops play but umpire Cedric Mourier asks the players to remain on court as the shower is not expected to last.
Nadal wants to play but Ferrer doesn't.
1501 GMT: Ferrer's not fown and out yet! He clinches the second break point to pull a game back.
1500 GMT: Three break points for Ferrer in Nadal's next service game.
1453 GMT: Nadal is in overdrive and Ferrer scrambles to take a single point in his service game before Nadal goes 2-0 up in what looks very much as if it will be the final set.
1452 GMT: Nadal has a bandage over his right knee as a reminder of his knee problem that kept him out of action for several months at the end of last year and start of this year. He has reportedly pulled out of a tournament in Germany next week to save himself for Wimbledon.
But is he still has any symptoms from his knee problem they are certainly not showing today as he quickly wraps up his opening service game in the third set with very little resistance from his compatriot.
1445 GMT: Now it's Ferrer who is double faulting. He gives the game to Nadal on a plate. The titleholder clinches the set and leads the match 6-3, 6-2.
1444 GMT: Was Nadal's concentration disrupted by the flare? Ferrer could justly say that he faced the same distraction.
1443 GMT: A rare double fault by Nadal gives Ferrer two break points. This times he grabs the first chance to break Nadal's serve. 5-2.
1440 GMT: A shirtless spectator in a mask leaps from the stands and onto the court, carrying a smoking pink flare. He has the words 'Childrens Rights' written across his chest in English.
Security officials immediately wrestle him away, but not before he has got within a few feet of the contestants.
Nadal shakes the hand of the security guard who sprinted into the playing arena to protect him. Play continues after a mere couple of minutes' interruption.
1438 GMT: Ferrer watches helplessly as another Nadal volley passes on his right to win the challenger's next service game. Nadal leads the set 5-1.
1436 GMT: The protesters, displaying anti gay marriage messages, are removed and play resumes.
1435 GMT: Play stops as protesters unveil banners at the top of one of the stands.
1432 GMT: That's the end of Ferrer's latest challenge. Nadal wins the game and he's 6-3, 4-1 up.
1429 GMT: Ferrer's fourth break point sparks another clash of the titans as both men fire a catalogue of torpedoes until wily Nadal draws Ferrer to the net with a drop shot. He returns it with ease but is out of place when Nadal lobs his next ball into the top corner.
1426 GMT: It's advantage Ferrer but it goes back to deuce as a long ball drops behind the back line.
1424 GMT: Nope, Nadal is too wily and takes the game to deuce with a fierce forehand out of Ferrer's reach.
1423 GMT: Two break points for underdog Ferrer on Nadal's next service game.
Chatrierroof1422 GMT: A on the main Court Philippe is the centrepiece of a controversial 340-million-euro project to expand and improve the cramped Roland Garros site, located on the fashionable western side of Paris.
It's not scheduled to be ready until 2018 though, a timescale criticised by Novak Djokovic this week as too long.
1419 GMT: A long, crucial game as Ferrer three times forces Nadal back from advantage to deuce, then goes to 'advantage' himself and clinches the game, his first of the set. He's still on the back foot though with Nadal 3-1 up in the second set.
1415 GMT: It's 40-40 in Ferrer's next service game as Nadal appears to be hurtling towards a quick victory.
1411 GMT: Unlike Wimbledon's Centre Court, Philippe Chatrier has no retractable roof that can be spread to enable play to continue during rain.
However, unlike on Wimbledon's grassy surface, play can continue for a while on a clay surface like that at Roland Garros. This is what's happening now as more and more spectators open their umbrellas.
1410 GMT: Ferrer fails to win a point as Nadal secures his own next service game and races to a 3-0 margin.
1407 GMT: Nadal breaks Ferrer's first service game of the set for a 2-0 lead. The weather is chilly but he's on fire.
1406 GMT: Nadal has the number 7 embroidered on one of his trainers, to symbolise his seven previous French Open victories. Whoever did the embroidery is probably already getting out their needle and thread ready to change the number to 8 after this match.
1403 GMT: No luck for Ferrer as he twists a backhand return into the net and Nadal wins the game.
1401 GMT: It's deuce as Ferrer goes all out to start the set by breaking Nadal's serve.
1358 GMT: Nadal serves to start the second set.
1357 GMT: AFP's Dave James points out that some people watching on the Philippe Chatrier court are unfurling their umbrellas. Fingers are still crossed that rain won't come down like it did during last year's final, when Nadal and Djokivic had to complete their final on the following day, a Monday.
1354 GMT: No messing about. Nadal wins the first set point to secure the first set 6-3.
1353 GMT: Two set points for Nadal at 15-40.
1349 GMT: Ferrer at advantage on Nadal's serve as he returns a drop shot from close to the net and Nadal over-hits the next stroke over Ferrer's head and past the backline.
Nadal quickly composes himself to wrap up the service game. He's 5-3 up.
1345 GMT: The French Open is the only one of the four tennis Grand Slam events which has not adopted the HawkEye electronic system for checking line calls, preferring to rely on the umpire's judgement. Television simulations appear to show that the ball that Mourier ruled out in the last game was just in.
1344 GMT: "First set not finished yet and Twitter already full of demands for HawkEye at Roland Garros," says AFP's Dave James.
"Maria Sharapova was pushing for its introduction earlier in the tournament"
1342 GMT: This time umpire Mourier rules against an appeal by Ferrer, and Nadal goes on to break serve for the second time and go 4-3 ahead.
1337 GMT: Nadal wins the next game to level at 3-3.
1332 GMT: A turning point in the next game as umpire Mourier confirms Ferrer's claim that a Nadal return is out, enabling the challenger to pull back from 15-30 down in his service game, which Ferrer goes on to win for a 3-2 lead in the set.
1329 GMT: Ferrer breaks back to go 2-2, winning a long rally for the clinching point as both players stand at the baseline thrashing rockets back and forth until finally Nadal spins a return into the net.
1325 GMT: 30-40 in Nadal's second service game as Ferrer bids to break back straight away, taking the lead Nadal slices a return out of court.
1323 GMT: Ferrer, interviewed in today's El Pais newspaper, spoke of the first time he first saw Nadal play in a Challenger in Seville in 2001.
"I was left really impressed. I remember he played against Israel Matos, I remember it perfectly. It was not the Rafa of today, he was a child! He was 14 or 15.
"They gave him a wild card and he won this game against a player that in those moments was much physically stronger than he was, he had to run much more after the ball."
1320 GMT: Uh oh. Some big hitting by Nadal wins him Ferrer's second service game to put the titleholder 2-1 up in the first set.
1318 GMT: Ferrer takes a point from Nadal's serve: 40-15. He'll need a lot more like that he beat his illustrious fellow-countryman. Nadal makes no mistake with the next point though and safely clinches the game.
1316 GMT: The umpire is Cedric Mourier of France, providing a presence for the host nation in the final.
1314 GMT: Ferrer wins the first game without Nadal taking a point. Good start!
1313 GMT: Ferrer serves first and the match begins. He takes the first point, at least.
1310 GMT: Allan Kelly notes: "16 degrees is the centre court temperature as they prepare to start. That's about half of what it was for the women's final on Saturday. Rain holding off so far."
1309 GMT: AFP correspondent Dave James reports: "For first time at this tournament I managed to make my way from Porte d'Auteuil metro to Roland Garros without having to swerve past a ticket tout.
'Paris police are flushing them out on the stretch to the stadium."
1307 GMT: Quotes from Ferrer and Nadal to the interviewer as they came onto the court:
Ferrerr: "I am very happy to be here and playing my first Grand Slam final."
Nadal: "It's always very special and I am playing against a friend, David."
1305 GMT: They're warming up. Both men are very familiar with each other's style, having played against each other many times and having played as team-mates in the Spanish Davis Cup squad.
1303 GMT: Ferrer is ready at the net but Nadal is still rustling in his sports bag on his bench.
1301 GMT: Sprint king Usain Bolt has just taken up his seat in the VIP section. The Jamaican is set to present the Coupe des Mousquetaires to the winner - no sign yet of Bolt's trademark "Lightning Bolt" gesture.
1259 GMT: Ferrer comes out of the tunnel onto the Philippe Chatrier court for the final, followed closely by Nadal. The compere announces Ferrer first, then Ferrer. The crowd gives Nadal a much bigger cheer than Ferrer.
1247 GMT: Andy Murray says it is "incredible" that Nadal is in his eigth French Open final. "I don't think it's something we will see again for a very long time," the Scot says on ITV.
"And I don't put it past him to be in the final a few more times."
Murray missed the French Open through injury but the Olympic and US Open champion is limbering up to compete in the Queens tournament in London next week as he builds up for his challenge in the Wimbledon tournament starting in two weeks' time.
1238 GMT: According to Marca, the loser of the video games between Nadal and Ferrer often has to carry out some form of forfeit.
"Whoever loses on the console has to pay a different cost.
"In more than one occasion, David and Rafa have appeared in their underwear at the reception of the hotel after being beaten much to the surprise of the staff and guests," AFP's Madrid bureau cites Marca as saying.
1236 GMT: Nadal and Ferrer both stay in the same Parisian hotel every year, just a short walk away from the Arc de Triomphe, and according to Spanish sports daily Marca spend their spare time playing video games against each other.
"Both organise their free time to challenge each other on the console," Joan Solsona wrote in Marca on Saturday.
"With the controls, Ferrer, who teams up with physio Rafael Garcia, is considered the number one."
1234 GMT: The Garde Republicaine military band are back out on centre court and Allan Kelly tells me the tune they are belting out is one they already played yesterday before the women's final.
The stands are gradually filling up, though the weather remains overcast and cold.
1231 GMT: Both contenders may be Spanish but the match has international significance as Nadal bids to show he is once again a world contender following his knee problems and Ferrer grasps a unique chance to improve on his status as a nearly-man.
1222 GMT: The weather in Paris is sadly chilly for the time of year -- not really strawberries and champagne weather -- but the ambiance is sure to improve soon, as tennis fans take their seats for the final.
As the culmination of one of the world's four grand slam tennis events, the final is certain to be among the most thrilling annual global highlights of the sport.
1219 GMT: It was a first Grand Slam title for the Russian pair and it was the first time they had beaten the Italians in five attempts, their last encounter being a semi-final loss at the Australian Open in January.
Errani and Vinci have been the dominant women's doubles team in the world over the last year, winning the French Open and US Open in 2012 and also the Australian Open this year.
1213 GMT: The women's doubles has just finished on the Philippe Chatrier court, the Paris equivalent of Wimbledon's centre court.
Fourth seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina of Russia have defeated hot favourites and defending champs Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy.
"Could this be an omen for the final?" asks AFP sports editor Allan Kelly, already installed at court-side for the upcoming mens's final, in which fourth seed David Ferrer will challenge hot favourite and defending champion Rafael Nadal.
WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the all-Spanish French Open men's singles final between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer at Roland Garros in Paris this afternoon.
Defending champion Nadal will become the first man to win the same major eight times if he beats compatriot Ferrer, who will be playing in his first Grand Slam final at the 42nd time of asking.
"I don't feel [like I am the] favourite - I feel that I am a finalist. I arrived to the final playing well. I improved a little bit in every match during the tournament," Nadal said yesterday.
Despite his modesty, the 27-year-old number three seed has everything stacked in his favour.
He has won 58 out of 59 matches at Roland Garros and boasts a 19-4 winning record over fourth seed Ferrer. Sixteen of those wins have been on clay.
The 31-year-old Ferrer has won just one of their claycourt encounters and that was their first career meeting in 2004 when Nadal was just 16.
Nadal has been the sensation of 2013, winning 42 of 44 matches and six titles since his return in February from a seven-month injury lay-off to rest his troublesome knees.
But he has spent six hours more on court than Ferrer in Paris and needed the best part of five hours to defeat world number one Novak Djokovic in an epic semi-final.
The match starts at 1300 GMT (1500h Paris time).
