As Paris prepares for its premier sporting event, Roland Garros, spectators around the world are only reminded of Melbourne and the tragedy that was the Australian Open Men's Final. Though they had never met in the final of a hardcourt major, the former and current world #1s began the match by simply picking up from 8-all in the fifth set from Wimbledon 7 months earlier. Breaks were traded, serves were smashed and ultimately dreams were broken. While Nadal prevailed as the eventual victor of the epic battle, Federer's humanly tears blurred his vision of the entire world crying along his side.
Rafa had clearly mastered the art of hardcourt play, most notably against countryman Fernando Verdasco in the semis, and earned the first Grand Slam of the year as his first major hardcourt conquest; but not even his most peripheral fans were satisfied. This was Roger's major to win and it slipped out of his hands. Never will the 2009 Aussie Open be considered the one Nadal won... but always as the one Federer lost.
Now we enter Rafa's house. The Spaniard has never fallen in front of the illustrious French crowd and looks poised to continue his run. However, with his recent clay win Roger is pumped to tie Pistol Pete's record and finally grab the elusive career Grand Slam. His Madrid success, though, is reminiscent of Federer's victory over Nadal in Hamburg in 2007 which proved to predict nothing substantive in Paris. This time, Murray & Djokovic may be of some added trouble to both highest seeds, but, as per usual, expect to see these top two on the final Sunday.
Rafa had clearly mastered the art of hardcourt play, most notably against countryman Fernando Verdasco in the semis, and earned the first Grand Slam of the year as his first major hardcourt conquest; but not even his most peripheral fans were satisfied. This was Roger's major to win and it slipped out of his hands. Never will the 2009 Aussie Open be considered the one Nadal won... but always as the one Federer lost.
Now we enter Rafa's house. The Spaniard has never fallen in front of the illustrious French crowd and looks poised to continue his run. However, with his recent clay win Roger is pumped to tie Pistol Pete's record and finally grab the elusive career Grand Slam. His Madrid success, though, is reminiscent of Federer's victory over Nadal in Hamburg in 2007 which proved to predict nothing substantive in Paris. This time, Murray & Djokovic may be of some added trouble to both highest seeds, but, as per usual, expect to see these top two on the final Sunday.
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