The Hindu : Sport : Nadal remains the king of clay

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Monday, Jun 11, 2007
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Nadal remains the king of clay

The Spaniard foils Federer's Grand Slam bid again

Federer gives it up after promising much

— Photo: AP

WHAT A FEELING: Rafael Nadal reasserted his supremacy on clay with a convincing 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Roger Federer in the French Open final in Paris on Sunday. The Spaniard became the first player since Bjorn Borg to win three successive titles at Roland Garros. The great Swede won six French titles, including four in a row (1978-81).

PARIS: Roger Federer's bid to complete a career Grand Slam was foiled again by nemesis Rafael Nadal at the French Open here on Sunday.

Nadal clinched his third Roland Garros title in a row, saving 16 of 17 break points to beat Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

``I am very happy,'' Nadal said during the awards ceremony. ``But I am really sad for Roger. He is a friend and I know he is a great champion, whether he wins or loses.''

For the third consecutive year in Paris, the top-ranked Federer sought to become the sixth man to win all four Grand Slams. Nadal defeated him in the semifinals in 2005, and in the final last year.

``Of course I'm a bit sad, a bit disappointed,'' Federer said. ``I hope to win it one day.''

The latest loss also spoiled Federer's bid to win a fourth consecutive major, something last done by Rod Laver in 1969.

Blowing hot and cold

With a sequence of brilliant shots, Federer won many of the rallies but squandered many chances too. He failed to convert his first 11 break-point chances, putting pressure on his own serve by repeatedly allowing Nadal to hold.

While losing serve only once, Nadal broke four times in 10 attempts. He had 27 unforced errors to Federer's 59.

The crowd was pro-Federer and kept chanting ``Ro-ger! Ro-ger!'' But when Federer's final shot landed long, fans roared for Nadal as he collapsed on the clay in jubilation.

``It's a dream for me,'' Nadal said. ``I worked very hard to be the best.''

For Federer, the story was all too familiar: since the beginning of 2005, he's 4-7 against Nadal and 199-7 against everyone else. He fell to 1-6 lifetime against Nadal on clay.

The second-ranked Nadal made a little history of his own, becoming the second man since 1914 to win the tournament three consecutive times, and the first since Bjorn Borg (1978-81). Still only 21, Nadal improved to 21-0 at Roland Garros and 34-0 in best-of-five-set matches on clay.

On the warmest day of the tournament, spectators in the sun were fanning themselves from the outset, and both players began to look weary in the pivotal third set. However, a determined Nadal kept chasing down shots all over the court, sprinting after one drop shot and flicking a winner nearly three hours into the match.

Nadal relentlessly probed his opponent's weaker side, sometimes forcing Federer to hit half a dozen backhands in a rally. But, Federer's usually formidable forehand hurt him more — the shot misfired several times on potential winners and sailed long.

``I could not do what I wanted to do from the back of the court,'' Federer said. ``I was always trailing. It was not easy.''

Federer repeatedly had chances to take command. In the first set, Nadal fell behind on his serve 15-40 twice and love-40 once, but each time the Spaniard rallied to hold.

Federer took a 3-2 lead but became dispirited when he failed to convert five break points in the next game, and Nadal won five consecutive games.

Federer broke for the only time to go ahead 4-3 in the second set. Even then he needed five set-point opportunities before he closed out the set to pull even.

It was the only set Nadal lost in the tournament, and he bounced back quickly, breaking in the second game of the third set en route to a 3-0 lead. Nadal broke again for a 2-1 advantage in the fourth set when Federer dumped a weak shot in the net, and the Spaniard never wavered from there.

In the final two sets, Nadal faced only one break point, saving it with a big forehand.

The Spaniard won $1.34 million, while Federer received $670,000 — small consolation for a player who has dominated the other major events, winning Wimbledon four times and the U.S. Open and Australian Open three times each, all since 2003. — AP

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