He was a virtual unknown to the general public and went into the tournament regarded as just another promising baseliner.

BBC: French Open | Men's seeds

Nadal's opponent on this night was to be Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, a former U.S. Open champion, the world No. 7, a gifted baseliner and hoverer in the tennis elite.

WSJ: Jason Gay: Nadal, Tennis's Snuffleupagus