Perhaps fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco asked the most appropriate, if not the most difficult, question soon after Rafael Nadal won his 10th French Open title.
"Can someone describe with words what @RafaelNadal [achieved] today?" Verdasco tweeted.
Well, let's start with the obvious: Nadal won the French Open with a dominating 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 performance against Stan Wawrinka. But this time he did it after a three-year Grand Slam drought. Rafa was down and out. He was done. At least that's that conventional wisdom said after a series of injuries and uneven results for two years heading into this season.
But after two majors in 2017, Nadal is an Aussie Open runner-up and a Roland Garros champ, which helps explain his emotions leading up to the trophy ceremony.
An emotional time for @RafaelNadal receiving his 10th RG π
β Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 11, 2017
Rafael Nadal reΓ§oit le TrophΓ©e des Mousquetaires pour la 10e fois π #RG17 pic.twitter.com/WZtMrp6X7x
Not only did Rafa win the title, but he did so in one of the most dominant two-week performances this sport has ever seen.
For the third time in his career, Rafa did not drop a set en route to a Slam title, tying another all-time great dirt stalwart, Bjorn Borg, for the most such runs through a major championship. Oh, and keep this handy little nugget tucked away: Each of the previous two times Nadal sprinted his way through a draw without dropping a set (2008, 2010 French Open), he went on to win Wimbledon just weeks afterward.
Of course, while Nadal was celebrating his 10th French Open championship, Roger Federer was already prepping for the grass-court season, where he hopes to snag Wimbledon title No. 8 next month.
Roger Federer & Tommy Haas after their practice session in Stuttgart, credits: @MercedesCup pic.twitter.com/Q8rSt1jGlZ
β Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) June 11, 2017
Speaking of Fed, Nadal is once again creeping closer to the all-time men's Slam leader, while American great Pete Sampras now falls to No. 3.
Here's what players, both former and present, had to say about Nadal's efforts:
Simply incredible, Rafa #10 #RG17 #VamosRafa #justdoit
β Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 11, 2017
Congrats to ostapenko and @RafaelNadal. Both @rolandgarros singles winner working with a past champion. Coincidence?
β Gigi Fernandez (@gigifernandez) June 11, 2017
Congrats @RafaelNadal #champ #unreal
β victoria azarenka (@vika7) June 11, 2017
Extraterrestre lo que hace Rafa. Sin palabras para expresarlo. Enhorabuena!!ππππππππππππππ@RafaelNadal πππππππππππ
β virginia ruano (@viviruano) June 11, 2017
Crying with you @RafaelNadal Best of the bestβπΌ #10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
β Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) June 11, 2017
#Rafa too good today but congratulations @stanwawrinka on a fantastic #RG17 run. Next up the grass!
β Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) June 11, 2017
2005 π
β Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 11, 2017
2006 π
2007 π
2008 πβ
2010 π
2011 π
2012 π
2013 π
2014 π
2017 π
For an historic 10th time, @RafaelNadal wins the French Open π pic.twitter.com/h7ARJcKnR6
INSΓLITO NADAL!!!! #LaDecima #Nadal #NADAL10
β Alex Corretja (@AlexCorretja74) June 11, 2017
@RafaelNadal 10 π @rolandgarros
β Fernando Verdasco (@FerVerdasco) June 11, 2017
It is so cool to have played in the era of Federer and Nadal. The two greatest players of all time in the same era. Amazing. Congrats Rafa
β Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) June 11, 2017
Simply amazing..... huge history.....never to be equaled in my lifetime.... https://t.co/H6Ma9FpFiX
β Johan Kriek (@johankriek) June 11, 2017
#Nadal this year at #RG17 is what happens when an immovable object and an unstoppable force are one and the same.
β Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) June 11, 2017
He was just unstoppable this 2 weeks! King of clay!!! #10 #Rafa
β Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) June 11, 2017
Dear @RafaelNadal well done on your well deserved #Decima ...I haven't seen anyone play as strong & as good as you were today, ever ! #rg17
β Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) June 11, 2017
What an amazing tournament for the king. Remarkable achievement @RafaelNadal πππ»1οΈβ£0οΈβ£π #RG17
β Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) June 11, 2017
10 ...... 10 ....... 10 ..... you can say it as much as you want. It's so not normal. Huge respect for @RafaelNadal .. pleasure to watch
β andyroddick (@andyroddick) June 11, 2017
Rafael Nadal!! Γnico πΎ1οΈβ£0οΈβ£ pic.twitter.com/PvAdiVuh2o
β David Ferrer (@DavidFerrer87) June 11, 2017
This is what we call a clinic! @RafaelNadal is the GREATEST CLAY COURT PLAYER THAT HAS EVER LIVED! Watch & appreciate this greatness! @nbc
β rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) June 11, 2017
To play Rafa now it's like going into the ring with Mike Tyson at his best!!
β Thomas Johansson (@tompatennis) June 11, 2017
I guess these shoes are no longer relevant!! @RafaelNadal #LaDecima pic.twitter.com/r30vAVUvNS
β Sam Groth (@SamGrothTennis) June 11, 2017
"Since 3 years old we have been working together..." this is really special to see Uncle T up on the podium well done @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/TO5B02Aiwp
β Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) June 11, 2017
#CHAMP10N vamos @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/CKuNnUIhFv
β Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) June 11, 2017
Can someone describe with words what @RafaelNadal archived today? πππΎ
β Fernando Verdasco (@FerVerdasco) June 11, 2017
I don't think many can put it into words and I don't think many understand this accomplishment, truly incredibly.Congrats, Champ10n
β Tommy Haas (@TommyHaas13) June 11, 2017
King Rafa ππππππππππ #10
β Robin SΓΆderling (@RSoderling) June 11, 2017
Simply to good. Congrats to Rafa and his team. Amazing 10 Roland GarrosππΎππΌ
β Magnus Norman (@normansweden) June 11, 2017
La dΓ©cima π±. IncreΓble campeΓ³nπ. @RafaelNadal
β Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) June 11, 2017
Absolutely insane @RafaelNadal congrats !!! #10 proud of you @stanwawrinka ππ»β€οΈπΌ
β Donna Vekic (@DonnaVekic) June 11, 2017
SΓ Rafaaaaaaaa so happy for you πππππͺπͺπͺ !!!!! πΓ 10 @RafaelNadal #quegrande #myidol #RG17 https://t.co/N1pKUSRhwR
β Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) June 11, 2017
Congratulations @RafaelNadal on your historic 10th @rolandgarros championship. You are an inspirational champion on and off the court.
β Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 11, 2017
HistΓ³rico e irrepetible, @RafaelNadal.
β Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) June 11, 2017
SΓ³lo queda πππ
Congrats @RafaelNadal to your 10th @rolandgarros title!ππ₯πΎπ
β Jonas Bjorkman (@BjorkmanTennis) June 11, 2017
Incredible achievement! πππ
The U.S. contingent, while not a factor in singles, walked away from Roland Garros with plenty of hardware.
On Saturday, American Ryan Harrison, along with New Zealand's Michael Venus, won the French Open doubles title -- beating American Donald Young and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico in the final.
The girls' final was an all-red-white-and-blue affair, as Whitney Osuigwe beat Claire Liu in three sets.
And Sunday, just hours before Rafa claimed the title, American doubles standout Bethanie Mattek-Sands won her fifth major title (and third straight overall). She and Lucie Safarova crushed the Aussie duo of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua 6-2, 6-1.
.@BMattek & @LucieSafarova capture @RolandGarros Doubles title!
β WTA (@WTA) June 11, 2017
Their THIRD straight Grand Slam crown--> https://t.co/WHjuST7EpV #RG17 pic.twitter.com/NXAkTefml4
Singles competition is overrated anyway. Just kidding, Rafa.