No mas once was used to describe a super welterweight championship rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. It definitely applied to Rafael Nadal’s latest French Open win at Roland Garros where earlier today he not only defeated world No.1 Roger Federer but dismantled the classy 12-time grand slam champion.

Just how thorough was the 22 year-old Spaniard’s domination in becoming the first man since tennis legend Bjorn Borg to win four in a row on the red clay? Against one of the best players the sport has to offer, the No.2 ranked Nadal dropped only four total games easily defeating Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 before a stunned Philippe Chatrier crowd in Paris.

Quite frankly, this was one of the best performances you’ll ever see by a tennis player in a championship. To hand the 26 year-old Swiss No.1 arguably his worst defeat with so much at stake was stunning to say the least. For a third straight year, Federer was attempting to become the sixth male tennis player to complete the career grand slam by adding the French Open title to his distinguished repertoire. On this day however, it wasn’t to be as he couldn’t muster much against tennis’ most dominant clay court performer.

Unlike the last two finals they played there in which Federer got a set off Nadal before dropping the final couple to fall in four sets, he couldn’t make it competitive despite some strong support from a pro-Roger crowd who wanted so badly to see the popular player make history. Instead, what they got for their money was a virtuoso performance by the No.2 ranked player in the world who matched Borg by four-peating improving to a remarkable 28-0 at Roland Garros.

In fact, his huge victory ranked as one of the most lopsided French Open finals in history bringing back visions of Borg taking apart Guillermo Vilas. Rafa also became the first men’s champion to not drop a set since the aforementioned Swede did it back in 1980.

Much like he was on hand at The Championships to present Federer a fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown, Borg was on hand to personally congratulate Nadal for matching another one of his records making it the first time he was back on that court in 27 years.

Of course, it was extremely disappointing that such an anticipated rematch turned into a rout. Federer just wasn’t sharp getting broken right away in the opening game by a determined Nadal who amazingly broke two more times to easily take the opening set dropping just a game.

When he continued to control play with top heavy groundstrokes from both sides of the racket forcing Federer to do much more running than normally, it looked like the rout was on at 2-0 in the second set making it eight of the first nine games. But just when the top seed looked out of it, he picked up his game finally finding the lines to hold and break back for two all.

Following a rare narrow escape for Nadal during a service game, Federer again held for three apiece and then applied the pressure looking to go up a break in the set. However, like great champions often do, the world No.2 fought off a couple of break points to hold for 4-3. It took some steam out of his opponent who in the very next game dropped four points in a row from 30-Love up when Nadal scooped up a backhand down the line winner to take a 5-3 lead.

The feisty Spaniard didn’t have any trouble serving it out for a two set lead. From there, a mistake prone Federer couldn’t find the range suffering a rare bagel when a forehand went long to give Nadal a fourth straight French Open title.

Just how special was his performance against his best rival? He won the last nine games. Something almost unheard of against such a great champion.

Clearly, Nadal was in a rare zone. According to stat tracker, he committed just seven unforced errors to Federer’s 35. He also slugged 15 more winners (Nadal-46, Federer-31) and broke one of the game’s best servers a ridiculous eight times in 17 opportunities.

Federer, who usually is very stingy on serve won 49 percent of his first serve and just 21 percent on second serve (5 of 24). It’s rare that you see him so bewildered but that was exactly the case Sunday as he couldn’t find an answer against an unreal opponent.

Nadal’s triumph was so thorough that he didn’t even celebrate opting to just run to net and shake Federer’s hand out of proper respect.

Even stranger was that Federer didn’t pass on a live TV interview on court following his toughest loss with NBC’s John McEnroe instead exhibiting such class under difficult circumstances giving all the credit to his opponent. When McEnroe told Nadal he was the best player he’d ever seen on clay, the modest Spaniard deflected attention opting to say that Borg was still better having won six French Opens- two more than he has.

It could be just a matter of time though given how well he’s playing on that surface. Will anyone ever get the better of him?

This was about as disheartening a men’s tennis slam final as I can recall. Federer’s body language wasn’t good throughout. Even when he elevated his level, you never got the sense that he felt he could win and make history. Perhaps that’s how intimidating Nadal’s become on clay. He plays amazing defense going from D to offense better than anyone on that surface hitting sliding winners which defy logic.

Borg said if he played Nadal, he would be more patient. You wonder how a match between tennis’ two greatest clay courters would go. Maybe in a simulated match cause that’s not happening anytime soon.

The bigger question is can Nadal finally conquer Federer on grass at Wimbledon after losing in two competitive finals including a classic five setter last year? Borg indicated that he thinks the No.2 ranked player will win the tournament this time around which still would be an upset considering how special Federer is on his best surface. He’s every bit as special as Nadal on grass as Rafa is on the red surface.

Figure the top two players to get stiff competition from No.3 Novak Djokovic and big serving American Andy Roddick.

It all starts a couple of weeks from now.

  E-mail this story |  Printer-friendly |  Discuss