Congrats to Rafael Nadal - still the King of Clay

The French Open began two weeks ago with doubts about Rafael Nadal being able to repeat and equal Bjorn Borg's record of six titles.  Like a true champion he proved them (me) wrong.  When the tournament began, especially after his first round match against John Isner, he looked as if the loses to Novak Djokovic had taken some wind out of his sails.  Isner is a decent player, but in all honesty, he had no business taking a set off Nadal on clay.

Rafael Nadal (left). Roger Federer (right)

Whatever the issue at the beginning, by the end, Rafa was clear with his mission & how to go about it.  To Roger's credit, this was the best he's ever played Rafa in any of the other three finals they've contested against each other on Court Philippe Chatrier.  Roger seemed to know how to crack the Nadal code, but Rafa just didn't let him have his way.  When Sunday's final started, Roger Federer got out to a quick start, breaking Rafa in his first service game with a Nadal error into the net.  Both had service holds after that until Federer was serving for the first set at 5-3.  Rafa's forehand did wonders for him to get back on serve, two to go up 30 love, then another down the line at 30-40 to get back on serve.  Rafa breaks Federer's next service game as well, then holds his on serve to take the first set 7-5.

Rafa went on a seven game streak (beginning w/Roger serving at 5-3 in the first set) before Roger was able to hold his own serve.  Then with Rafa serving at 4-3, Roger breaks to level the second set 4 all.  Rafa immediately breaks back, then after a brief ran delay, Federer breaks again to get back on serve - 5 all.  Both guys hold their serves to take the second set to a tiebreak, which Rafa wins 7-3.  Two sets to love for Nadal.

Roger celebrates after winning the third set

Third set, Rafa breaks Roger's serve on his third service game, then...Roger breaks back.  Roger breaks again later in the set to go ahead 6-5, then serves it out to take the set 7-5.  

Rafael Nadal - game, match, set

When the fourth set began, it was clear Rafa had enough of Roger's shenanigans - Rafa has never lost in the finals at the French Open, and he was not about to let it happen today.  Serving at 1-2, Roger's serve disappoints him, then he hits a double fault to give Rafa three break points.  He only needed one.  Roger wouldn't win another game for the duration of the match, and we were witness to a scene that's played out on this court five times before - Rafa rolling in the red dirt in celebration.  7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1, Rafael Nadal, six time Roland Garros champion.  Of all the years he's played the tournament, seven total, he's only lost one of them, that was in part to a bum knee and a guy named Robin Soderling.  

Rafael Nadal remains the King of Clay.  Big ups to Rafa.

French Open Final Preview

Friday's French Open semifinal matches were everything they were hyped up to be.

Rafa celebrates semifinal win against Andy Murray

Roger looking confident after defeating Djokovic

Rafael Nadal did what was expected, and dispatched Andy Murray in straight sets.  In Murray's defense, he is not a clay court player by nature, and this was the best he played against Rafa on the clay at Roland Garros.  Murray had many chances during the match, but Rafa proved too tough.  The second semifinal w/Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic was not as straight forward.  Nole went into the match undefeated this year and as the odds maker's favorite.  That was until The Federer of years ago showed up.  The first set was a tight one, with Federer taking it in the tiebreak.  Novak lost the second set, looking like the Djokovic of years ago, as if he was already beaten & had given up all hope.  Nole came back to take the third, but Roger administered kryponite to Superman, and took the fourth in a tie break.  I along with a lot of others, thought Nole would pull this one out, but Roger had other ideas.  He has proven, at least for now,  that he is not at all down and out.

This sets up a scene we have seen three times before, 2006 thru 2008.  During this period Federer was at the top of his game, at top of THE game, but he still couldn't take more than a set off Nadal at Roland Garros.  In the 2008 final, Roger was manhandled - losing 1-6, 3-6. 0-6.

Bjorn Borg

At the beginning of this year's French, Rafa didn't look like the Rafa we had been so accustomed to seeing on the red dirt of Roland Garros, blame it on the new balls.  Whatever the issue was, he has corrected it.  He looks prime to win his sixth French Open title, equaling Bjorn Borg.  Federer on the other hand has looked good up the semifinals, then in the semifinal match against the Djoker, he showed us something we hadn't seen from him a while - that steely confidence was back and in full flight.  His shots were cleanly hit, his movement was once again poetry.  That being said, this is the same way he looked coming into the '06, '07, & '08 finals against Nadal.  

Andy Murray (left), Rafael Nadal (right)

Novak Djokovic disgruntled

I said in my last post that I didn't think that Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros would remain 'Casa de Nadal' after this Sunday, but maybe I was wrong.  Maybe I'm wrong now, maybe Federer's win over Djokovic has ignited a spark him that has yet been unseen at the French, only time will tell.  Whatever happens in Sunday's final, my respect level for both of these guys went a couple notches higher after today's semifinals.  Include in that sentiment Djokovic and Murray.  They both lost their matches, but they both fought, they were just outplayed.

French Open Men's Semifinal Preview

During the past week and a half at this year's French Open, order prevailed as the top four players will be playing in Friday's semifinal matches.  Five time & defending champion Rafael Nadal will play the fourth seed Scot, Andy Murray.  On the other side of the draw, the number two seed, Serbian wonder boy, Novak Djokovic will play number three seed,the Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer.  There's no doubt that all four of these guys want to win, and there's no doubt that each one wants to prove something to himself and faithful aficionados of the sport.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is known as the 'King of Clay', but recent events have brought about some questions about whether he will remain the 'King'.  In the last two clay court masters tournaments he played just before the French Open began, he was beaten in both finals by Novak Djokovic, in straight sets.  During the course of the French Open, he has at moments looked out of sorts when he would normally look like a lion going in for the kill.  Rafa himself has said, “I said two days ago I am not playing good enough to win Roland Garros. We will see in two days. That’s what I said."  He may be five time & defending champion, but I believe the words he speaks.  The losses to Djokovic in the last four finals, the last two on Rafa's red dirt, have caused a serious blow to his confidence.  I think we've definitely seen the end of Rafa clay court domination, the other fish in the water are getting bigger.  That being said, Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros remains 'Casa de Nadal', but I have serious doubts that it will be after this Sunday.  He's also at risk of losing his number one ranking, and there is nothing he can do about it but hope.  Going into his semifinal match against Andy Murray, he is the clear favorite, holding a  10-4 record against Murray, never having lost a match to him on clay, or any surface in five sets.

Andy Murray after injuring ankle

The Scotsman, Andy Murray, is starting to salvage his 2011 season after horrendous showings after this year's defeat in the Aussie Open to Novak Djokovic.  He's had a good clay court season, and his best showing yet at the French Open by making it to the semifinals.  He has a tough challenge against Rafael Nadal, but it's not one he cannot overcome.  This time last year, no one would have ever given him a snowball's chance in H-E-double hockey sticks against Rafa, but given Rafa's form this year, and the way Murray has been playing, he has a shot, albeit a long shot.  He injured his ankle in a match against Michael Berrer last Saturday, but seems to have bounced back from it, and is playing more freely now that he has nothing to lose.  It's funny how an injury can free a player up, and allow him to swing without fear.  The best part of the scenario is that Andy himself believes that he can beat Rafa on clay if he raises his game.  "I can definitely win.  I feel I can do it," said the 24-year-old Scot. "It's just making sure that, come Friday, I play my best tennis. I have to play a very consistent match and I have to be mentally strong. Tactically, I'm going to have to be very good."

Novak Djokovic

The best player on tour this year is without a doubt Novak Djokovic.  He's beaten Federer three times this year - two semifinals and one final, and Nadal four times, all in finals.  His confidence level is unmatched, and he's playing for more than just the title at Roland Garros.  Should he make it to the final, he will have taken over the number one spot in the world ATP rankings, even if he doesn't win.  If that's not motivation, I don't know what is.  He's been able to do what Nadal and Federer have done so well over the years, raise his came to much higher levels in a match when needed - just look at highlights from his match against Del Potro in the third round, the only player to take a set off of him during the tournament.  That match against DelPo could have easily been a quarter/semi/final match, it's just because of Juan Martin's injury induced ranking that they played so early in the tournament.  He will have had a four day break when his semifinal match against with Federer comes Friday, but with his current confidence level, that won't be an issue at all - if anything, it will be a curse, for Roger.  “I’ve played a lot of tennis, so I don’t think rhythm wise, I’m going to be affected,” the Serb told McEnroe in a Tennis Channel interview. “Still, I’m eager to get back to the court and compete, so I’m mentally motivated.”  He has previously reached the semifinals of the French two times  in 2007 & 2008, both times losing to Rafa, but this is Nole's year.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer has been surprisingly under the radar during this year's French.  With all the talk about the possible Nadal/Djokovic final, Roger is not feeling the pressure.  But his being left out of the conversation valid?  I think so.  Roger will be 30 later this year (Aug 8th), and 
although in everyday life, 30 isn't old, in tennis it's ancient - especially when the fiercest competition is coming from the likes of a two 24 year olds, Serbian, Novak Djokovic, and a Spainard nicknamed 'The Bull'.  Roger's game doesn't have the sting it used to have.  His serve has become very attackable, his forehand average, his backhand a liability, and he's a step slower.  Against Nole or Rafa, these are losing combinations.  Not to say that Roger will be a walker over for Djokovic, but the chips are definitely stacked against Roger in this semifinal.  I don't think his confidence has been shaken, he's been on top far too long for that to happen, it's just that the young guns have much more ammo than The Roger.

All things being said, these two semifinal matches should not disappoint.  If you have the chance to camp out to watch, I suggest that you don't miss them.  For those of you unable to be in front of a TV, but you do have internet access, head over to Live Score Hunter to view live.

Djokovic/Del Potro French Open Round 3 Review

Juan Martin Del Potro (left); Novak Djokovic (right)

The match that everyone has been waiting/hoping for since the French Open draw came out has come and gone.  I don't really know what the schedule makers were thinking when they decided to make this the last match of the day.  I'm sure they didn't expect the matches before it to go the distance, but this was a time when the women's match should have been scheduled last, this match was too big of a blockbuster to even have the possibility of being played over a two day period...but I digress.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Day one, Friday, May 27th.  The match started off as expected, with both guys knocking the fuzz off of the ball, Nole feeding off the pace that DelPo was feeding to him.  Serving at 2-2, Nole saves two break chances on his serve, then went on to break Juan Martin in his next service game to go up 4-2.  This proved to be the only break needed for Nole to take the set 6-3.  DelPo didn't play a bad set, but he gave Djokovic too much of what he likes - a lot of pace coming at him.  In the second set, Juan Martin realizing what mistakes he had made in the first, started taking some pace off the ball & putting more air under his shots, forcing Djokovic to create his own pace, thus making more errors. It was the fourth game of the second set in which Juan Martin broke serve, with the help of a Djokovic double fault, to go up 3-1.  Same as the first, one break was all that was needed for DelPo to take the set 6-3.  At this point, one hour 37 minutes after the match began, it's dark, and for whatever reason, the folks at Roland Garros have decided never to install lights on the courts.  Each player is sitting in the chairs, DelPo looks over to Nole, nods his head & says, "we stop, okay?".  Nole packs up his rackets, as does Juan Martin, and the tournament umpire comes out to confirm the obvious, play suspended until Saturday.

Novak Djokovic

Day two, Saturday, May 28th.  The match begins with Juan Martin firing missiles from the 'Tower of Tandil', but Nole's movement and defense skills fought each one of them off.  Forgetting what he had done to take the second set, and missing out on break chance opportunity with Nole serving at 2-2, Juan Martin in frustration, slammed his racket into his racket bag during the changeover.  With DelPo serving, Nole did what he does best, breaks serve to go up 4-2 in the second.  Both guys started taking the spin off the ball, hitting hard & flat, both holding serve, but the one break proved too much for Juan Martin to overcome.  Nole takes set number three 6-3.  First point of the forth set, DelPo comes out with the heavy artillery and hit a passing shot that froze the Djoker in his tracks.  For a moment it looked like it would be a replay of Friday's second set, but it wasn't meant to be.  Serving at 1-1, DelPo saved one break point against him, but then gave Nole the gift of a double fault - DelPo goes down 1-2 in the set.  He was able to break back, but so was Nole, two more times, to take the set and the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.  "Today he’s done much better than me and he took his opportunities and made the match very difficult," Del Potro said. "I had my chance in third set, 2-all, two break points, and I miss it. Against this player, if you don’t take your chance, you lose." 

Friends once again, Nole (front), DelPo (back)

Djokovic improves his season record to 40-0.  Next up for the Serb, will be France's own, Richard Gasquet on Sunday.  If he wasn't before, Nole is looking more & more like the clear favorite to win this year in Paris, especially with Rafa playing scratchy - scratchy for Rafa's standards anyway.

French Open 'Preview'

The main draw at the French Open begins this Sunday, and a wonderful occasion it will be.   Three guys are the talk of the tournament - the usual suspect, Rafael Nadal, will be there to defend his title from last year, and also try to tie the Björn Borg record of six French Open titles, Roger Federer will be there trying to salvage his year, and course, tennis' boy wonder, Novak Djokovic will be there.  Some other players that may possibly have a chance at the title, or at least going deep into the tournament are, Andy Murray, Robin Soderling, and Juan Martin Del Potro.

Novak Djokovic

The most talked about guy is without a doubt, Serbian, Novak Djokovic.  Nole is on a 39-0 run this season, with seven titles - one slam, and four masters series titles.  Currently sitting at number two in the world, if Nole makes the final, even if Nadal wins, he will take over the number one ranking position.  He has become the second player who has beaten Nadal four consecutive times, the only player who has beaten Nadal in four consecutive finals.  In their last two matches, Nole has beaten Nadal in straights sets ON CLAY.  Up until this year, when a Nadal has gotten ahead in a point, that point was his for the taking, but Djokovic has changed that dynamic.  His best performance at the French Open to date were two semifinal births in '07 & '08, losing to Nadal each time.  In '10 he made it to the quarters before being ousted by Jurgen Melzer. 

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is currently the number one player in the world, but only by 405 points, and this French Open could very well be the end of his reign.  Up until about three weeks ago, Rafa was on a 37 match win streak on clay (186-6 record overall since 2005), but then he came up against Nole in the finals of Madrid and that streak was ended.  People said that it was only because Madrid's clay was faster, and the altitude had a say in the way things happened, but then the following week in Rome, on a court that plays similar to those at Roland Garros, Djokovic captured another straight sets win.  His notorious forehand shot with the high kicking ball placed at his opponents backhand side used to prove an effective weapon, but Nole has been able to neutralize it - the short of it is that the Djokovic backhand has become a much better weapon than the Nadal forehand.  The days when the  longer rallies, especially on clay, that used to go Rafa's way are gone, at least against Djokovic.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer was known as the second best player on clay, behind Nadal. He was a French Open finalist in '06, '07, 08, losing each time to Nadal, and he won the 2009 French Open (with the absence of Nadal in the final).  This year he has been beaten by only four men - Richard Gasquet in the round of 16 in Rome, Jurgen Melzer in the quarters in Monte Carlo, three times by Djokovic - Aussie Open & Indian Wells semis, the finals in Doha, and twice by Nadal - Madrid & Miami semis.  Early years in his days of domination The Fed was always under control, always stoic, and rarely showed any negative emotion on the court. Now he's often visibly frustrated, 'Roddicking' - arguing with umpires, he's a step slower, his forehand doesn't have the sting it once had, and his backhand has become a definite liability.  Having lost the number two ranking to Djokovic earlier this year, The Fed will want to have to make a good showing if he wants to make his way back up to the top - or at least put himself in a position where he doesn't have to meet Nadal or Djokovic is the semifinals of tournaments.

Andy Murray

Andy Murray, oh Andy Murray - I really don't know what to say.  After the beat down he took in the Aussie final from Djokovic, his lil engine just couldn't/wouldn't go any further.  Traditionally, clay isn't his best surface, but maybe there is a glimmer of hope in the fact that he took Nadal to three sets in the semifinal in Monte Carlo, and also Djokovic  in Rome - this match in Rome is being hailed by some as the best match of the year & I agree. His best performance at the French Open came in '09 when he made the quarterfinals, '10 he went out in the fourth round.  We can only wait to see which Andy shows up.  Let's hope for the best...I really like this guy, and would like to see him win a major one day - Great Britain would love him for it.  I would love him for it.

Robin Soderling

Robin Soderling in the past two French Opens has been the 'giant killer'.  In 2009, he took out (an injured) Rafael Nadal in the round of 16, in 2010, he took out '09 champ Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.  So far this year, his performance has been decent, and he has reached the quarterfinals in his last three clay tournaments.  He can be very unpredictable on the clay, or in general for that matter.  Like Mr. Murray, it's a wait & see kind of thing with him as well.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Juan Martin Del Potro has gotten progressively better since his return to the tour earlier this year.  At the end of 2009, before his wrist injury, he was expected to be the guy to break up the Federer/Nadal duopoly. In route to his '09 US Open title, he took out Nadal in straight sets in the semis, and Federer in a five set thriller in the final - hitting them both off the court in the process.  He has two titles this year, one on clay at Estoril earlier this month.  He booked himself a third round clash against Nadal in Madrid, but had to withdraw before the match with a hip injury.  Up until earlier this week, he wasn't sure he'd be healthy enough to play at Roland Garros.  He could possibly face Djokovic in the third round, which will be interesting, but with Nole playing the way he is, DelPo will have to be very well rested to get by him...unless, of course Nole has a let down in playing form.  I wish him luck, but don't see him getting past the Djoker.


There are of course other guys who can possibly threaten, but these six guys I see that have the game and the mental fortitude to get the job done.  Regardless of anything else that may go on in the course of the tournament, the Nadal/Djokovic/Federer storyline is making this one of the most anticipated French Opens in a long time.

This French Open is going to be tasty! 

Ce français Ouvert va être délicieux!