Defying the years and one of the most fierce onslaughts he has ever faced at Roland Garros, Rafa Nadal has won his 12th French Open crown, leaving Dominic Thiem crushed and a packed Parisian stadium shaking their heads in wonder.
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The first set had been one for the ages, the second ran it close, but after three hours and one solitary minute on Sunday all that mattered was that Nadal was once again in familiar pose, flat on his back in the clay, a 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 winner to clinch his 18th grand slam triumph in total.
For much of this final, rarely, if ever, has any opponent played so well against Nadal on this Philippe Chatrier centre court.
Rarely, if ever, has the best of the young guns Thiem struck the ball so firmly, or played with such purpose and aggression. But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Not even before Thiem ultimately ran out of steam.
The 33-year-old Nadal, who becomes the first player to win the same grand slam title 12 times, going past Margaret Court's 11 Australian Opens, now sits just two major titles behind his great foe and men's grand slam title record holder, 37-year-old Roger Federer.
"It's incredible. I can't explain the feeling," Nadal told the crowd.
"For me it was a dream to play here in 2005, and I could not imagine I would be back here in 2019. It's a very special moment for me.
"I want to say congratulations to Dominic. I feel sorry ... he deserves it. He has absolute intensity and passion for this sport. I wish him all the best for the future."
Physically, Thiem had looked strong and resolute.
But who can say what mental toll his rain-delayed semi-final victory over world number one Novak Djokovic had taken.
The Austrian had had to play on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and now Sunday while Nadal had had Saturday off, having dispatched Federer on Friday before the rain set in.
Certainly it would have taken a monumental effort to remain mentally positive after playing an opening set as he did, and coming out of it empty handed.
Few people on the planet can hit a backhand like Thiem, even once. To do it time after time after time is boggling, but that is what it would take to unseat Nadal.
Still the Spaniard rolled on, soaking up Thiem's best shots, and the cliche beloved of numerous science fiction movies and TV series seemed appropriate: "Resistance is futile".
So it proved until Thiem's final ball drifted long and Nadal was again flat on his back in that red clay, adopting the pose that will adorn back pages and websites worldwide.
By this stage, Thiem, too, could only look on in admiration.
"I love this tournament with all my heart, I love you people with all my heart," he told the crowd. "Of course I am very sad to lose," he added, before turning to Nadal.
"You are such a legend in our sport we can be really happy you are playing... I will try next year again for sure."
Meanwhile, newly crowned French Open champion Ashleigh Barty will put away her racquets and pick up the golf clubs this week as she recovers from her Roland Garros success.
Barty returned to the scene of her career highlight on Sunday morning for the champion's photoshoot having celebrated with her camp at an Italian restaurant near Roland Garros.
"It was a great evening, just those closest to me," she said. "Beers, steaks, pasta. No speeches, just fun."
After her gruelling seven-match run in Paris, Barty has withdrawn from the Nottingham grass-court event despite being the defending champion. She will return to action the following week in Birmingham.
She'll then head down to the English south coast to play at Eastbourne, in a stellar field showcasing some of the world's best including Simona Halep, Kiki Bertens, Sloane Stephens, Karolina Pliskova and Caroline Wozniacki.
Barty's boyfriend Garry Kissick, a trainee professional at Brooklands Golf Club in Queensland, will also fly in this week and join her for a round at The Belfry in Warwickshire, which has hosted the Ryder Cup on four occasions.
"We're going to play a bit of golf and do nothing at all," said her coach Craig Tyzzer.
"She's pretty tired, both mentally and physically."
Barty said she'd make sure she enjoyed the experience of being a grand slam winner this week then put it behind her to focus on the grass court season.
"Our team has worked so hard for this and to now be reaping the rewards is so special," Barty said.
"But it's a fresh start and a clean slate next week when we go to Birmingham.
"It's important for me to start again, to work on the few little things I need to adjust for the grass courts.
"We can celebrate this, we can have fun, but it's a clean slate going into the grass-court season."
