French Open Final - Nadal

J.R. Hudson

J.R. Hudson

Spirit Animal
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/tennis/specials/french_open/2006/06/11/bc.ten.frenchopen.ap/index.html

Federer is undoubtedly the best player playing right now but I think Nadal is making a case to take over that slot.

Nadal is 5-1 against Federer over their careers thus far, including a win in last year's Roland Garros semifinals and the 5-hour Rome final.

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I think Federer will be thinking about this for awhile. It is times like this that player's either persever or get stuck. Federer has 7 Slam's (Not an easy feat)

Can he maintain his momentum after losing once again in France ? Next up is Wimbledon.
 
Well, as much as I think Federer will be known as the greatest ever when all is said and done, I do not think you can hold that title if you are 1-6 against anyone. So he better figure out a way to start beating Nadal. In his defense, most of those times have been on clay. I think he would have a better record against him if more of their meetings were on other surfaces. Problem is Nadal doesn't win as much on those surfaces, and since they are 1 and 2 in the world, they are almost always on opposite ends of the draw. Which means if Nadal loses before the finals, they don't get to play (mark my words, Nadal will once again lose before the 3rd round at Wimbledon). Nadal is definitely in his head though. And we all know what happened the last time someone got that far into someone's head (cough cough - Roddick). I love Federer though.

Quick story on Federer. I don't know if anyone saw that final between Blake and Federer some months back. Federer beat him pretty easily. Afterwards, in the awards ceremony, Blake stood up and told everyone, about how when he was in the hospital and he thought he was never going to play again with all those terrible things that were happening to him, there was one player on the entire tour who came and visited him and wished him to get well. Not Roddick or the Bryan brothers or Ginepri, or any of the other Americans. That player was Federer. And it wasn't like these guys were best buddies either. They knew each other through the tour but that's about it. I mean, how can you root against someone like that.

Anyway, I hope some freak thing happens in the draw and Federer gets to play Nadal at Wimbledon. I think we might see quite a different result.
 
Federer is a class act. I thought for sure he'd break Nadal today. Psychologically Nadal has the edge on him for beating him so many times. Should be a good Wimbledon.
 
We've seen this pattern so many times . . .

Someone comes along, looks nigh on to unbeatable . . . people start talking about "greatest ever"; for a while, no one can really argue, 'coz who can get in the way?

Then, someone no one's ever heard of comes along (that's where Federer came from, remember) and bumps him/her out . . . or, just as often, someone who's been in the game for a while finally figures out how to channel their talent (which looks to be Nadal).

It starts with an upset, then The Invincible starts to look less and less so.

Now, this doesn't mean Federer is out of the running for the Greatest Ever, but he's been looking more and more human lately.
 
In his defense, most of those times have been on clay.
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Prior to this past weekend's French Open final (on clay), 3 of their 6 meetings were on Hard Court. Nadal has won 2 of those 3 meetings. The one win from Federer being him coming from behind (down 2 sets and a break) 5 set win, so he easily could be down 7-0. But could be's are here nor there at the end of the day.

I suppose the most telling statistic isn'y hard court or clay nor the Grand Slam titles but the 6 and 1 in the last 7.

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And Nadal on Hard ?

54 - 21 in his career on Hard Court's including 11-3 in '06 and 4 of his last 8 titles are on hard courts.

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Screw it. I just want one more Agassi U.S. Open run; damn it.
 
Oh John, always the researcher. The point is, most have still been played on clay. And that's to Nadal's advantage. And you're right, "almost" means nothing. Federer, I believe, had a match point in Rome. So he "almost" won that one. I will go so far as to GAURANTEE that Federer will win 100% of the time the two play on grass, 100% of the time the two play on carpet (or any indoor surface), and 100% of the time at the U.S. Open, for the rest of their lives. The question is, can Nadal win enough on those surfaces to face Federer. Time will tell.
 
c.g._eads said:
Oh John, always the researcher.
Click to expand...

I only wish more people would take the time to do the same!

The point is, most have still been played on clay.
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Yes ! This point is as of Sunday.

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I don't know what's going to happen at Wimby but I think calling the U.S. Open is premature at this stage; especially with Rafa holding the edge on that surface as of today.

And Ace Rebound ? Agggh; who cares :/
 
Watch ? I'd assume we'll be playing and then watching at the Country Club. The only question is:

'Your's or Mine?'

:laugh: :cheesy:
 
The finals are on July 8-9. Tell you what -- last year, I watched the middle Saturday coverage at Slice of Life Pizza on Market Street downtown, and I'd recommend it. Oh, and it was Sharapova, so it was an especially nice watch.
 
Sharapova is a specimen; apparently they have put something into the Milk as they didnt grow them like this when I was a youngun

Maria-Sharapova.jpg
 
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