Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated David Ferrer in the final, 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2013 French Open.

He also equaled Max Decugis, who won eight titles at this event when it was only open to French club members.

[citation needed] In the semifinal encounter between Nadal and Novak Djokovic, they played a notable 4 hour, 37 minute match.

[4][5][6] Federer was attempting to become the first man in the Open Era to achieve a double career Grand Slam, but he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals.

[8] Third-seeded Nadal from Spain faced off against fourth-seeded David Ferrer in the finals of the French Open.

"[8] The two-hour sixteen-minute match was briefly interrupted by noisy protesters, one of whom ran onto the court with a lit flare.

Tournament director Gilbert Ysern said security "acted efficiently and quickly and handled [the situation] very well.

Nadal broke the men's record for most victories at the French Open and improved to 20–4 against Ferrer.