There are some reasons that I must admit I am quite eager to get back home to get on my nerdy blog and yak on about for my own private fun and today has given me one of them.
Yep of course I am referring to the French Open men's singles semi final matches between Andy Murray vs Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic. These matches naturally deserve their own paragraphs so that's what I'll do.
Starting with the Rafa vs Muzza match, on paper it sounded exciting and as we know Andy had already taken a set off Rafa at Monte-Carlo back in April, however this is a slam and its quite different. Nonethless we expected a great match, but did we get one??? Well sort of. To say it was great was going a bit too far, but overall the quality of match far outstripped for the quality of the ladies singles semis matches. For the first two sets Andy and Rafa both gave a fine high quality display of tennis for the Parisian crowds, but of course this being Rafa's backyard meant he had advantage straight off and Andy having never played Rafa at Roland Garros before was immediately at a disadvantage. So to cut a long story short Rafa defeated Andy in straight sets in 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, but the match was far from what the scoreline would suggest as being a straight set victory. Rafa did have to scrap with Andy to get the win as they battled it out over 3 hours and 18 minutes, however it has to be said Andy had his share of break points but he just didn't convert them, and again in those moments Andy just doesn't take his chances. To be fair he did at the start of the match play really well, but his serve dissolved rather badly as it went on and that again aided in costing him the match. But I wasn't for one minute expecting Andy to defeat the king of clay on his own surface, just to give him a match, and he did succeed in doing that. Even Rafa in his pre-match press conference said he felt Andy was a special player who's talent is difficult to compare to alot of other players, and he's absolutely right. When Andy plays the other top players he definitely has a special edge over the others that they don't have, I mean who else on the tour this year apart from Federer came within two points of beating Djokovic? No one else came close, but he did. Mats Wilander also said he felt Andy has the tennis, he has it in him to win the slams, but he just hasn't quite shown it yet, he will one day hopefully.
One thing I will definitely give Andy credit for was his attitude on court which was really good, he held it together well, showed alot more self control and maturity than he normally does. This time he kept his historinics to the minimum and in a way that was the most impressive thing about the match. If he can maintain that attitude then he is sure to do well in future matches, but his maturity is something that will come in time and will take some work. Anyway overall I think Andy did a good job today, he acquitted himself well and no one can expect to defeat the king at his own game in his backyard in one go. Andy has also had the best clay season of his career so far this year too, as he managed to reach three semi-finals in Monte-Carlo, Rome and at Roland Garros. No mean feat.
So onto the next match which was the more anticipated of the two I'd imagine between the greatest player that has ever played the game Roger Federer and the greatest player of the moment Novak Djokovic, who has had an unbeaten winning streak all year. And it has to be said that this match stood head over shoulders above Rafa and Muzzas in quality, as it saw both players hammer it out, which left the Parisian crowds shouting and baying for more, as they continually stood to their feet with rapturous applause. Without a doubt this match was one of the best if not the best match of year so far in 2011, as Djokovic truly met his match (no pun intended!) in Federer who pushed Djoko all the way and succeeded where no one else did in... get this.... ENDING his winning streak!! Yup that's right! Roger Federer who was the very man who last defeated Novak before his incredible winning streak took place, was also the man who ended it tonight!! Poetic justice I'd say. But I have to give both players full credit for this match as it was an utterly superb display of physical fitness and incredible shot making, as they both went at it full tilt. The first set was without a doubt one of the highest quality sets you will ever see where each player shared breaks until they made it 6-6 all, and in the tiebreak Roger sealed the first set, in the second Roger steamrolled over Djoko in 6-3, and in the 3rd Roger let his level dip to allow Djoko back in the match who took the set in 6-3. But in the 4th set it went to a nerve biting tiebreak once again where Roger finally prevailed, the final score reading 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5). And when it comes to tiebreaks, Roger rarely loses.
So that's the end of Novak Djokovic's winning streak, all it took was 43 matches, and it wasn't as we thought initially Rafa who would end it, it was in fact the man who everyone's eyes was temporarily taken off, Roger Federer. But Federer's level throughout this whole tournament was so sublime you could almost see it coming, he hadn't dropped a set the whole tournament, and Djokovic did well to take him to that level himself considering. In fact I almost felt a bit sorry for Djokovic when he went off court, he does take loss very well, and he showed much humility when he went off. It was an incredible feat and a great run, but I think when it really came down to it, when he really felt the pressure in the slams with the No.1 ranking almost in his grasp he did bottle it a bit and lost his nerve somewhat. And its a testement to Federer's incredible agility, stamina and phenomenal ability as a player that lead him to snap the Djoker's unceasing run, and it was a performance that was nothing short of magnificent. I also think it will teach Djokovic a good lesson in humility too, as I can imagine when you win so much you forget what its like to lose, and he did need a good reminder and at the end of the day, when it comes to the slams there are players who can handle that pressure just that bit better. Not to sound nasty but I am glad Djokovic's winning run is over as it just went on so long and it shows while he is one of the best players in the world, he is also vulnerable too, and of course he'll just have to start all over again! But for now John McEnroe's 42 match record in one year is safe, as Djoko missed it by one. He might put together another streak, but I don't think it will be anywhere near as long, that's a once in a lifetime thing really. To quote Hal Holbrook who said to Charlie Sheen in the film Wall Street "You're on a roll, kid, enjoy it while it lasts, cos it never does!". Very true indeed.
Well I think Federer has handed Rafa the best birthday present he ever could have done, putting Djokovic out of the tournament, surely Rafa will be jumping for joy over that one! But Rafa does face Federer in the form of his life, so he's probably swapped one nightmare for another one! But I can still imagine Rafa is the favourite to win the title on Sunday, he certainly has the best chance now and surely he still wants to hang on to that No.1 ranking, and he is the ultimate clay court player and he will also equal Bjorn Borg's record of 6 titles if he does win. However with Federer's current form it could be him lifting that trophy tomorrow! But without a doubt its going to be a great match and one which I'm sure everyone will want to see. The Parisians will once again be wetting themselves!
So that's all fer now, tomorrow sees the woman's final between the defending champion Francesca Schiavone and the Chinese No.1 Li Na, who is in her 2nd consecutive grand slam final this year. They are both really good players, great athletes that move well round the court and have an array of great shots, so its going to be really interesting who will emerge as the winner. And I'm sure it should be a 3 set battle, overall its hard to pick the winner, but I think Schiavone will edge it.
And that's it. More to follow!!
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