Rafa king of clay
PARIS – Rafael Nadal scrambled across the sun-baked clay for three hours in 90-degree heat, chasing another French Open title by repeatedly forcing Roger Federer to hit one more shot.
The effort by the 20-year-old Spaniard paid off with a 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory Sunday, spoiling Federer’s bid for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam championship.
“I can’t say I’m better than him,” Nadal said. “Since I was born, I’ve never seen a more complete player. He’s the best.”
Nonetheless, Nadal earned his second successive Roland Garros title and extended his record clay-court winning streak to 60 matches. He also prevented the top-ranked Federer from becoming only the third man to hold all four major titles at the same time.
“I tried,” Federer said. “I can’t do more than try, having this real unique opportunity that we haven’t seen in such a long time in tennis. Obviously it’s a pity, but it goes on, right?”
Nadal closed the victory with a swinging volley for a winner, then collapsed to his back and rolled over, covered in the clay he loves.
“He’s a fighter and he’s a grinder, and he deserves to win here,” Federer said.
Federer’s first loss in eight Grand Slam finals came at the only major he has yet to win, and at the hands of his nemesis. Nadal also won when they met at Roland Garros last year in the semifinals.
During changeovers, French fans tried to inspire Federer with chants of “Ro-ger! Ro-ger!”, but they were answered with chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” Nadal earned the cheers at the end, winning the first meeting of the two top-seeded men in a Roland Garros final since 1984.
With his unsurpassed retrieving skills, the Spaniard kept running down balls in both corners to extend points. He served well, holding 14 games in a row. And the left-hander kept pulling his heavy, high-kicking forehand crosscourt to break down Federer’s weaker backhand.
Waiting to be introduced before the match, Nadal bounced like a boxer preparing for a prize fight. But it took him awhile to really start swinging.
He lost 16 of 18 points during one stretch, and played 35 minutes and 46 points before he won a game after falling behind 5-0.
“I was very nervous, and making bad mistakes,” Nadal said.
Federer couldn’t sustain the fast start. Content to duel from the baseline – a questionable tactic against the king of clay – Federer had 51 unforced errors to 28 by Nadal.
In short, Federer looked flat, frustrated and even fragile, remarkable for a player who had won 27 consecutive Grand Slam matches.
The match began to turn with Federer serving at 0-1 in the second set. He took a 40-love lead and appeared to win the next point, but the chair umpire overruled a line call and ordered the point replayed, and Nadal rallied to break for the first time.
Nadal pulled ahead in the third set. He saved four break-point chances to hold for 2-all, then broke in the next game on four errors by Federer, including a blown overhead, and served out the set from there.
“Maybe he was nervous too,” Nadal said. “Roger was playing today for being on the top of history. This pressure is a lot, no?”
In the fourth set, Nadal was two points from the title serving for the match at 5-4, 30-15, but Federer rallied with some of his best tennis to break.
Nadal made another save of his own in the corner for a 5-2 to lead in the tiebreaker and served out the final two points, extending his winning streak in finals to 14 in a row. He improved to 24-0 on clay this year, and he’s 14-0 in two appearances at Roland Garros.