RAFA HAS ANOTHER BITE TODAY IN PARIS. BY CHERYL JONES

Written by: Staff on 7th June 2014

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

RAFA HAS ANOTHER BITE TODAY IN PARIS. BY CHERYL JONES

epa04245419 Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the trophy after winning the men's final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 08 June 2014. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT |

Trading shots is what Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic do when they have a business meeting. They’ve been at it for more than a few years and including today’s match, they have met 42 times, which is the most head-to-head encounters in tour level play in the Open Era.

Today, it began as a clean slate when the first ball zoomed over the net. All that really mattered was what was taking place, then and there on Court Philippe Chatrier on a Sunday afternoon in June. It took three and a-half hours, but Nadal fulfilled his dream of a ninth Coupe des Mousquetaires. Djokovic will have to wait another year to try for that title to take home the trophy in all the Grand Slams.

There was no need to remember Indian Wells in 2007 where the two first met as big time contenders and Nadal was the victor; then a few weeks later, in Miami, Djokovic took home that prize. It doesn’t matter in the least, today. That was more than seven years ago and times change. Both of them have multiple championships added to their résumés and they have traded places as the number one ranked male player in the world numerous times. They’ve matured. (Nadal just turned 28 a few days ago and Djokovic was 27 just before Roland Garros began.)

Experience has forced out the newness of competition and even though the jitters were probably there, the stage was set for a match to remember. Even when recollections fade, there will be pages in the history books with the particulars that include the fact that Nadal was the second youngest man to have won 14 Grand Slam titles, Number one on that list is Roger Federer, who oddly enough was 27 years and 303 days old when he won Roland Garros in 2009. Nadal was 28 and 5 days old when he stepped out on the court today and walked off with the trophy in his arms and five victories in a row. (That’s never been done before.)

The final score 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 wasn’t what Djokovic wanted, but after the first set, it was almost a given that Nadal would fulfill his need to be added again to the tennis record books. Djokovic began talking to himself, banging the racquet on his head and flinging them in frustration in the third set. No matter how hard he worked, he couldn’t make a dent in the Spaniard’s game. Nadal had all the moves and possessed a much cooler head today. Some days it’s all about composure. Other days, it’s all about winning. Nadal was in charge of both. After the match, he fell to his knees and cried and then at the appropriate moment, there was the typically Rafa gesture – a bite out of the Coupe.

Roland Garros’ venue is difficult to liken to any other. Greats from now and then have all graced the courts and I swear the ghosts of long dead champions still lurk under the tunnels that lead to Court Philippe Chatrier, promising good fortune and fame to those who pass by.

With the advent of mega-television screens, a huge jumbotron looms over the crowd that is anxiously milling around the grounds. Attached to Court Suzanne Lenglen is a screen reminiscent of long ago drive-in movies. (It’s huge.) A few years ago, chairs were neatly aligned with possibilities to view the match from outside the stadium where it was taking place. Visitors with grounds passes sit in comfort and enjoy the match. It is almost better than a rock concert and it’s likely the views from the chairs provide clarity that may not have the ambience, but the picture is clearer than some of the spendy seats in the stadium where the players often resemble miniatures scooting around the distant red clay. (I estimate that there were nearly 1,000 seats that outshine the view from Henman Hill at Wimbledon where folks spread their blankets and picnic baskets early in the day, merely to reserve a place for the best views of the matches on a big screen that broadcasts from Center Court. Just don’t tell the guests that spent the equivalent of $600 U.S. for the Philippe Chatrier seats today.)

It was tense on court. The day turned sultry when earlier it was merely hot. Clouds enveloped the entire sky late in the afternoon, and the sweat was dripping off both men. Nadal was dominating, but not commanding. Then, a little give and take where Nadal always took more. The fans were wild with excitement, appreciating both men’s determination. After the match Djokovic spoke often of the role the crowd played in the match. “To be able to also be appreciated by the fans the way I was in the end of the match just gives me more, I’d say strength and motivation to come back here and try till the end of my career hopefully to get at least a title.” He has the attitude and the ability to do just that.

Nadal is a circumspect kind of guy. His grasp of English is amazing for someone ten years ago who could barely come up with a “No?” After the match he was asked to describe how he could go on with other tournaments and other matches. His answer was from the heart, “Well, whatever happens for the rest of the season, I must say I have done so much already since the beginning of the year. Since I started my career, it’s been ten years, and for ten years I have played many tournaments at a high level. Of course, I’m quite serene and calm, at peace.” He will sleep well tonight, knowing that he did the best he could and it all came together. It all worked. He and his team, especially his long-time coach, Uncle Toni, who has tutored him since he was four years old.

There was magic in the air for Rafa today and all those ghosts of Roland Garros were cheering him on. Viva la Rafa! Viva la Roland Garros! After today, they will forever be a part of the story that tennis told today.

Topics: Cheryl Jones, French Open, Novak Djokovic, Paris, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros, Tennis, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

June 8, 2014 at 4:10 pm

RAFA HAS ANOTHER BITE TODAY IN PARIS. BY CHERYL JONES – http://t.co/6D3hPi4MGR @RafaelNadal @rolandgarros #RG14 #tennis #FrenchOpen #Paris