Two legends stepped onto the brick-red clay courts in Paris on Sunday, and as always, when the two meet, it’s tennis at it’s best.
A 30-year-old Roger Federer, potentially the greatest tennis player of all time vs. Rafael Nadal, a 25 year old who may end up surpassing Federer once it’s all said and done. Tennis at it’s best.
Both players were on top of their game in the French Open Final — Federer’s serve, as stated by the commentators over and over, appeared to be the best it’s ever been. Nadal’s athleticism and defense, as always on clay, kept him in every point. It always does.
Rafael Nadal protected his clay court throne, defeating Federer 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2, a result that surprised no one.
But the manner in which Nadal beat Federer was surprising. In their battle for eternal greatness, any glimpse of light, any opportunity, any hint of momentum Federer had in the match immediately turned back into darkness, as Nadal quickly shut down any chance of glory for Federer.
The opportunities for Federer began in the first set, when he broke Nadal’s first service game to take a 2-0 lead. In the first eight games of the match, Federer looked like he used to, when there was no question that he was the best tennis player on the planet — before Rafael Nadal entered the picture and exploded onto the scene. The only crack in Federer’s wall, his backhand, wasn’t missing, and his forehand, volley, and serve games appeared to be on.
This was his match to lose.
Then a breakthrough for Nadal. With Federer serving to take the first set, Nadal proved why he is ranked No. 1, and showed why he may finish his career as tennis’ No.1 ever. Nadal broke Federer, a rarity when he is serving for the set, bringing the men back on serve at 5-4. He wasn’t done yet. At 5-5, after winning his own serve, Nadal broke Federer’s serve once again, and there was nothing that “Fed” could have done about it.
The second set went back-and-forth with the two breaking each other a total of four times. Nadal took the tiebreaker 7-3, and only one set stood between him and a sixth French Open Championship.
After going up a break, and having a clear path to number six, something changed — briefly. Federer broke Nadal twice in the last six games, taking the set at 7-5. The crowd, anxious to see more tennis and another hurrah from Federer, began to roar with him. He had the momentum; his game once again became as sharp as it could be. Nadal had 11 winners to go along with eight unforced errors in the set, and seemed shaken by the punch to the gut Federer had delivered.
But it only knocked the wind out of him.
As the best seem to do, Nadal responded — in a big way. It took only four games for Nadal to take in advantage and break Federer in set number four. Nadal only had two unforced errors, winning the set 6-1, and giving him French Open title number six.
With 10 titles at the age of 25, Nadal is two championships ahead of Federer’s pace on his record setting mark of 16. It would appear that Nadal is well on his way to one day being known as the best ever, but this win came on his home surface — the clay court.
For Nadal to take the “may” out of this next statement and change it to “will”, he will have to win Wimbledon, Federer’s home surface, in another matchup of: The 30-year-old Roger Federer, potentially the greatest tennis player of all time vs. Rafael Nadal, the 25 year old who “may” end up surpassing Federer once it’s all said and done.
Tennis at it’s best.
Mind of Mike 