Rafael Nadal destroyed Roger Federer's historic Grand Slam dream
for another year by capturing his third successive French Open
yesterday.
The Spaniard's 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory emulated the great
Bjorn Borg's record of three Roland Garros titles in a row.
It also shattered Federer's hopes of capturing a first French
Open and become only the third man after Don Budge (1938) and Rod
Laver (1962 and 1969) to hold all four Grand Slam crowns at the
same time.
The win also preserved the 21-year-old Nadal's perfect record of
never losing in the tournament in his three visits. He has now won
all 21 of his matches including beating the world No 1 in the final
here in 2006.
Despite being the first player to take a set off the champion at
this year's tournament, Federer was left to regret squandering 10
break points in the crucial first set which he lost and a huge 60
unforced errors in the match.
"I feel sorry for Roger," said Nadal. "He is such a good person
and a great champion. I'm happy to win here again but I need to
keep working to get even better."
Federer, who has now lost to Nadal three years in a row here,
said it had been another tough afternoon.
"It's a shame, but I think I came closer to winning last year.
This year I was always behind and it was never easy," said
Federer.
"It's not the last time I will play here and I will try all I
can to win next year."
As Court Philippe Chatrier basked in sweltering temperatures of
28 degrees, it was Federer, pushing the Spanish left-hander out
wide, who sniffed an early chance in the first set but Nadal
snuffed out two break points in the fourth game.
Nadal saved five more break points in a marathon sixth game
which featured a 21-stroke rally.
The crushing failure to hammer home the advantage weighed
heavily on the Swiss as he was immediately broken to love in the
next game as Nadal nipped 4-3 in front, a sloppy backhand into the
net sealing the top seed's fate.
Federer wasted another golden opportunity in the eighth
game.
This time three more break points went begging as Nadal came
back from 0-40 to lead 5-3.
The Spaniard went to set point in the ninth game which he
converted in style with a screaming winner which left Federer,
whose game had rapidly unravelled, scrambling after 51 minutes on
court.
Nadal broke to lead 2-0 in the third set and defended splendidly
from the baseline in the fifth game to go to 4-1.
Federer saved a set point in the eighth game but his opponent
claimed the the set 6-3 with another power-packed forehand after
2hr 26min of action.
Federer, wilting under the familiar Nadal barrage and unable to
break the Spaniard's resistance, hit a lazy forehand approach into
the net in the third game of the fourth set to allow Nadal to jump
2-1 in front.
A love game allowed Nadal to go 4-2 which soon became 5-3 as the
fight deserted Federer.
Nadal sealed his third title after 3hr 10min when Federer hit a
weary forehand long.
(China Daily via AFP June 11, 2007)