AFP IS NOW CLOSING THIS LIVE REPORT after Rafael Nadal became the first man to win the French Open seven times, beating Novak Djokovic in four sets in final that resumed on Monday after rain intervened on Sunday.
The Spaniard triumphed 4-6 3-6 6-2 5-7, breaking the record of six Roland Garros titles he had jointly held with Swede Bjorn Borg, while also drawing level with Rod Laver and Borg with a total of 11 Grand Slam titles to his name.
The 26-year-old world number two maintained his record of being beaten just once in the 53 matches of his French Open career, by Swede Robin Soderling in 2008.
For five-time major winner Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion, it was the end of his dream of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all the Grand Slams at once.
"Rafa is the best player ever on clay, and he's one of the best players who have ever played this game," Djokovic said afterwards.
One word on Nadal's own official Twitter account said it all - it read simply '#HIS7ORY'.
Read on to see how the drama unfolded on Court Philippe Chatrier:
1220 GMT: Djokovic receives his runners-up silver tray while Nadal claims the Coupe des Mousquetaires (The Musketeers' Trophy) to prolonged applause in Paris.
Djokovic thanks the crowd for their "love of the game" and his family for their support - he says Nadal "was the better player".
Nadal also speaks a bit of French and tells the crowd that Roland Garros is "the most important tournament for me".
1210 GMT: Nadal is in tears as he runs up to players balcony and hugs family members, his coaching staff and anyone else who gets in his way!
1203 GMT: GAME, SET, MATCH AND CHAMPIONSHIP NADAL!
Nadal is the French Open champion for the seventh time!
Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 5-7 Nadal
Error from Djokovic who sends a backhand long - but he makes it 30-15 with a smash after Nadal defends his first overhead. But a forehand long from the Serb and it's 30 all! Nadal ups the pace in the next rally with some blistering forehands and cracks another winner to earn his first championship point. Djokovic dumps his first serve into the net and his second goes long!
Terrible way to lose it but Nadal is the champion!
1157 GMT: *Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 5-6 Nadal - Nadal disputes a line call - the Spaniard felt it was out but the umpire says his intervention was too slow and Djokovic gets the decision. What could have been 40-0 is now 30-15. The Serb follows it with another slapped winner crosscourt and danger for the Spaniard. But Djokovic sends one long and, after a scintillating rally, sends a dinked lob from the net just beyond the baseline.
Mexican wave in the crowd who are clearly feeling the tension!
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1149 GMT: Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 5-5 *Nadal - Nadal suddenly very defensive, waiting for Djokovic to force the pace - the Spaniard sends up a lob which the Serbian dispatches to go to 30-15. Its followed by a great rally that Djokovic ends with another winner. A big serve and Nadal's return is out - huge applause from the crowd who are sensing the importance of that hold. And now the sun is out!
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1143 GMT - Play suspended - or is it?
It pours down and they're off - both players are sheltering under umbrellas. No covers coming on... but the shower's over as fast as it started and they're out again! Keep up.
1141 GMT: *Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 4-5 Nadal - Nadal finishes a long rally at 30-0 with an emphatic crosscourt forehand winner - he enjoyed that as he struts back to the service line to widespread applause. Djokovic then dumps a return into the net and that's an easy hold to love for Nadal.
Rain falling steadily now and the umpire is on the phone to the referees - they may be going off here....
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1137 GMT: Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 4-4 *Nadal - Not a great defensive lob from Nadal but Djokovic misses the overhead and he then misses again to make it 30-30. But the Serbian produces a wide swinging serve is too good for the Spaniard followed by another big serve to hold.
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"Severe shortage of celebs in VIP box," my AFP colleague Dave James tells me from Court Philippe Chatrier. "French TV forced to keep showing France Davis Cup coach Guy Forget instead."
1132 GMT: *Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 4-3 Nadal - Nadal rattles through that service game to hold. It's nip and tuck here.
Afraid some umbrellas are going up in the crowd as some drizzle starts to fall...
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1128 GMT: Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 3-3 *Nadal - Nadal ripping some huge topspin forehands here. He lands one on the line for a winner He then nets one and misses fractionally with one down the line to make it 40-15. Djokovic's holds as his crosscourt shot is called out but the umpire overules as it just clipped the sideline. Nadal nods in agreement.
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1123 GMT: *Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 2-3 Nadal - Big serve from Nadal and Djokovic can't control his forehand return, the ball flying long to make it 40-0. The Serb sends another backhand long and Nadal holds to love. The defending champion is straight into his stride here.
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1118 GMT: Djokovic 4-6 3-6 6-2 2-2 *Nadal - An early 'Vamos!' from Nadal there as he cracks a winner - Djokovic then mishits a forehand wide left to make it 15-30. The Spaniard nets an attempted forehand down the line but the Serbian returns the favour to give Nadal a early chance to break back. A lucky net cord for the Spaniard and he follows it with a clinical crosscourt baclhand winner. They're level at 2-2.
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1111 GMT: A reminder that Nadal is leading this final by two sets to one - the score was 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2 when they came off yesterday evening, with the Spaniard having just ended a run of eight straight games reeled off by Djokovic to run away with the third set..
The Serbian is already up a break in the fourth and is going to serve first here...
1105 GMT: The players are out and warming up on Court Philippe Chatrier - it was a bit like Groundhog Day there as they posed together for another official photo at the net...
1050 GMT: Brooding skies and chilly conditions at Roland Garros right now but it's not actually raining. Fingers crossed they can get this final back on as scheduled..
1045 GMT: Tournament director at Roland Garros Gilbert Ysern said last night that the weather forecast for Paris today was "not excellent, but it is okay through 5:00 or 6:00 pm with a risk of some showers during the day."
"The guys in charge of the forecast are pretty optimistic. So we think that 1:00 is probably a safe starting time."
Organisers have been criticised for starting the final at 3:00 pm local time on Sunday, instead of an earlier slot, despite the predicted bad weather.
"TV does not dictate the schedule. Of course, their expectations are important factors, but they do not dictate," said Ysern.
"Not everyone knew for sure what time it was going to rain, it's not that precise. Arrangements for the final starting time are made months in advance and, out of respect for the broadcasters, we cannot change at the last minute."
WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the French Open men's final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic which is due to resume in Paris at at 1:00 pm (1100GMT) after play was suspended on Sunday due to rain.
Nadal was leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2 at at 6:50 pm local time (1650GMT) yesterday when conditions on Philippe Chatrier Court were deemed too treacherous.
More rain is forecast for large parts of Monday but tournament director Gilbert Ysern has insisted that there should be enough breaks in the weather to allow the final to finish.
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