When Rafael Nadal describes it as the perfect French Open then you know you’ve witnessed something historic.

The 31-year-old Spaniard’s 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 demolition of Stan Wawrinka in yesterday’s final was a performance of stunning efficiency and it was befitting that he should produce it on the occasion of his record 10th Roland Garros triumph.

Many players don’t even get to play 10 grand slam events, let alone win the same one 10 times but Nadal, who first won the title in 2005, reached La Decima in the most brilliant style in the sweltering skies he loves, with the kind of tennis that has made him the undisputed king of clay for more than a decade.

“This has been, I think, a perfect Roland Garros for me,” said Nadal, who dropped just 35 games in total, with no opponent winning more than four games in any set.

That’s the most dominant performance since Bjorn Borg in 1978 and it brought Nadal his 15th grand slam title, three years after his last.

There were plenty of people willing to write Nadal off as a grand slam contender when he pulled out before his third-round match last year suffering from a serious wrist injury.

At the time, Novak Djokovic was riding high and Andy Murray was beginning his stunning second half of the year that eventually took him to world No 1 and it seemed like Nadal, with his chronic knees and with his wrists also giving way, his best tennis was behind him.

But the Nadal of 2017 is a healthy one and that has made all the difference, his run to the final of the Australian Open in January setting him up perfectly for his beloved clay, the surface on which he has again been so dominant.

“It is true that this one is going to be one of the more special for the number, for what happened on the ceremony after the final, for so many things,” said Nadal, who watched a montage of his 10 victories – and haircuts and outfits – before accepting the trophy.

“And because I am 31 already and not a kid anymore. Today was a very important day for me. Have been some tough moments last times, injuries, so it's great to have big success like this again.”

As a contest, it was pretty much over once Nadal had taken the opening set as Wawrinka struggled to find the balance between all-out attack and controlled aggression.

The Swiss, who had spent more than four and a half hours beating Murray in the semi-finals, smashed his racket toward the end of the second set but it didn’t help as Nadal romped through the third to clinch victory.

It was a special triumph for Nadal but also for his uncle, Toni Nadal, who has been his coach since the age of three but who will step down at the end of the season.

“After many years and many problems, to return here with good courage, is unbelievable,” said a tearful Toni, before turning away from the interviewer who had made his way into the stands.

Carlos Moya, the former world No 1 who joined the team last autumn and who will take over duties full-time next year, was also emotional.

Nadal, who had fallen on his back on the clay after Wawrinka netted a volley on the final point, said he was proud of the achievement of winning his 10th French Open, even if he was typically modest at the same time.

“As I like to say, if I can do it, someone else can do it,” he said. “But you need the right circumstances, the right ingredients to win 10 French Open titles.

“I don't know if I will ever get to meet the player who will do better than I did. It has been very special to me, and it's true that it is unprecedented. Trust me, I'm very happy that I'm the one who did it. I'm very happy.”

Wawrinka, who had won all three of his previous grand slam finals, said he felt he struggled more mentally than physically.

“I think I was a little bit hesitating with my selection of shots,” he said. “I was always a little bit between (thoughts). One, because I play against him and he puts this doubt in your head when you play against him because he's playing so well. He’s playing the best he has ever played.”

Both men now head to Wimbledon, where Nadal, who hasn’t won there since 2010, will hope his knees hold up to the rigours of the low bouncing surface.

If I have pain in the knees, then I know from experience that it's almost impossible,” he said.

“But if I am healthy and I am able to have the right preparation and feel healthy during the Wimbledon, then I am probably going to have my chances to play well.”