As Expected… By Cheryl Jones

Written by: Staff on 7th June 2013

As Expected… By Cheryl Jones |

Seldom has there been more riding on the outcome of a couple of encounters. The matches that were contested on Courte Philippe-Chatrier, the last Friday of Roland Garros could be the lead-in to more than the Men’s Championship. History is waiting in the wings. The semifinal round that felt like a final saw Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic up first, followed by David Ferrer and Jo-Willfried Tsonga,

Nadal and Djokovic shouldered their racquet bags and along with a parade of officials and ball kids, made their way through the labyrinth of corridors that provide the passageway to the storied venue at 1:00 p.m. sharp. Nadal was looking for a win to propel him into the final on Sunday. It could mean an unprecedented eighth la Coupe des Mousquetaires. Not only would that represent the greatest number of wins at Roland Garros, if it comes to pass, it will be the most any player has ever chalked up at any of the Majors.

Djokovic though, had been searching for the trophy that a win at a fourth Slam could provide. It would have joined others he had earned from Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open, (1 each from the US Open and Wimbledon, and 3 from Australia). Now, he’ll be waiting at least another year for that to even be a possibility. It seemed as if the Serbian took a downward mental turn when he stumbled on what should have been a smashing winner – but he fell into the net. It negated his gutsy effort at a miraculous retrieve with the score resting at 4-3 in the fifth set.

In the end, Nadal triumphed, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7, in the tedious seesaw battle that provided his center court ticket for Sunday’s Men’s Final. It took 4 hours and 37 minutes. After play had finished, he appeared tired, but it’s likely he is extremely pleased that he has a full day to rest and prepare for his quest. Sunday will offer the opportunity for his signature bite out of yet another prize. His place in the history of tennis will be cemented no matter what happens. He will top the list of victories on terre battue if he wins. Today’s triumph tied him with Roger Federer and Guillermo Vilas who have 58 wins. (Federer made the opportunity for Rafa to jump into the lead when he lost to Tsonga in their quarterfinal match.)

Second on the slate today was Tsonga and Ferrer. Most often, French players get a boost from a “home” crowd that comprises the majority of spectators. The late match was the antithesis of Nadal/Djokovic’s opening act. Even though there were a few interesting exchanges, they were filled with vitriol from Tsonga who was not happy with the condition of the court, saying it was too dry, In 2 hours and 4 minutes, Tsonga went the way of Djokovic, who had also complained about the conditions. The crowd was on their way home soon after the last ball was struck.

Ferrer had no trouble, as he leapt to 6-1 lead in the first set. Tsonga looked shocked and more than dismayed at his performance throughout, even though he rallied to provide some competition during the second set, but lost in a Tie-Break, 7-6. The third set was merely a formality and the home crowd went away wondering what had happened to Tsonga when his usually spirited game was reduced to powder, much as the crushed brick on Courte Philippe-Chatrier. The concluding tallies were 6-1, 7-6, 6-2. That set up a final that will assure a Spaniard of the Coupe.

A Spanish faceoff is not new. In the early 1990s, Sergi Bruguera defeated Alberto Berasategui for the title and soon after that, in 1998, Carlos Moya took home the trophy when he defeated Alex Corretja. There was another all Spanish match-up in 2002 when Albert Costa defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Ferrer’s last victory over Nadal was in the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2011. Look for Nadal, the man from Manacor, Mallorca, Spain to take away the victory on Sunday. It will establish yet another unreachable record involving Rafael Nadal and the terre battue of Roland Garros. No?

Topics: Cheryl Jones, David Ferrer, French Open, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros