Nadal Wins French Open For 6th Time Against Federer
Rafael Nadal has beaten Roger Federer in the French Open to win a record equalling 6th French Open title.
It was not only the French Open title that was at stake for Nadal, it was also the no.1 spot in the world rankings and the possibility to equal Bjorn Borg’s 6 French Open titles.
It hadn’t started well for Nadal as Roger Federer continued his sparkling form from the semi-final against Djokovoc, reaching set point at 5-3 up only to see an attempted drop shot land just wide.
That miss was a turning point in the match. Nadal suddenly found an extra gear and Federer seemed to lose something.
Suddenly the tables had turned and it was Federer who faced set point as Nadal fought back to lead 6-5. Now the momentum had shifted so dramatically in Nadal’s favour it seemed inevitable that he would claim the first set, so it proved with a viscous forehand that sealed the set.
Federer was visibly ruing the lost first set and his unforced errors started to rise quickly, the second set started how the first set finished.
However he managed to hold on to the coat tails of Nadal as it reached 4-4 but he could never pull out any sort of advantage.
At 5-4 down and 40-40 Federer got a chance to re-group as the heavens opened and the expected rain delay came, albeit for only 10 minutes it allowed Federer a chance to re-focus.
Federer came out of the blocks faster and Nadal looked a little un-nerved causing the set to go into a tie break.
His comeback stuttered though with more unforced errors and Nadal steamed ahead and won out in the tie break 7-3 leaving Federer a seemingly impossible task.
Nadal is not called the King of clay for nothing having only been beaten once at the French Open in all the years he has been competing.
Nadal also started well in the third set stretching out a 4-2 lead but Federer suddenly re-discovered his form from the start of the match, fighting back to take the set to the excitement of the crowd.
However his exertions seemed to have taken their toll in the 4th set and he was, after all, playing the fittest man on the tour in Nadal.
Nadal powered to victory in the final set 6-1 to ensure another place in the history books, a 10th title and the no.1 ranking.
Next stop Wimbledon.
Photo: Frédéric de Villamil
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