The Spaniard's triumph added a third prize to the Mousquetaires cups he won by beating Mariano Puerta in the 2005 final and Federer in last year's final.

The second seeded Nadal becomes only the second man in the Open era to win three successive titles joining six-time winner Bjorn Borg.

Nadal, who is undefeated on the red dirt of Roland Garros, controlled the match from the outset as Federer struggled early with his first-serve and throughout the match with unforced errors, of which he committed 60.

Federer was completely frustrated in a dramatic first set, during which he failed to capitalise on ten chances to break the world number two.

Nadal, by contrast, showed typical ruthlessness, breaking on both of his chances in the opener.

In the fourth game Federer set up two early chances to break by dominating with his forehand to set up a smash at the net, but he squandered them both as Nadal's forehand proved too powerful on repeated occasions.

Two games later Nadal managed to save five break chances in an awe-inspiring 17-minute game during which Federer was pressed into critical errors during several long rallies.

At that point the audience broke into competing chants of "Rafa" and "Roger," which would recur throughout the contest.

Federer, who was attempting to complete the career grand slam by gaining the only major that has eluded him, hand the wind completely taken out of his sails by the epic sixth-game, and was subsequently broken to love after committing repeated errors.

The calm ten-time grand slam winner came back in the next game to earn a triple-break point, but again Nadal saved all three as Federer hit error-after-error.

Rafa then converted on his first set point, breaking the Swiss to 30 to claim the opening set 6-3.

The world number two opened up the second set with a hold to love, but relented in the seventh game of the second handing Federer three break chances.

The Swiss, who finished 1-for-17 on break chances, finally converted a break on his second attempt of the game and 12th try of the day.

Nadal challenged Federer on the very next game forcing the top seed to save three set points.

But despite the tricky hold of serve, Federer's nerves did not seem to return as he blew five chances to break Nadal for the second set, committing repeated unforced errors in the ninth game.

The Swiss then easily held to 15 to claim the second set as he started to take to the net more yielding mixed results. Federer ultimately claimed 21-of-34 points at the net.

In the second game of the third set Federer continued his aggressive tactics on serve, but was repeatedly beat at the net by the combination of Nadal's lovely cross-court backhand and massive forehand before surrendering the critical break to 15.

Both men held easily until the fifth game, during which Rafa produced a sterling hold to deuce again catching Federer at the net with a mighty running forehand from the far corner of his court.

After two more easy service holds by both men, Federer was forced to save a set point as Nadal's backhand passing shot went wide. He ended up holding with one of his nine aces on the day.

But Nadal easily confirmed the second set on the first of two set points, pumping his fists in delight after blasting a forehand into the outstretched racket of Federer as a sense of inevitability began to take hold.

Nadal's excellent first-serve accuracy of 77 percent only seemed to improve in the final set, and the Majorcan had little trouble holding serve after earning the crucial break in the third game of the final set.

Rafa raced to a triple championship point in the tenth game, again hitting a massive forehand into the tip of Federer's racket as the Swiss desperately lunged for an impossible return.

The Spaniard then confirmed on the first attempt as Federer committed his 29th unforced forehand error of the match to send Nadal falling backwards into the red dirt in celebration.

Jeremy Stahl in Paris