Tennis Atlantic

The 8 Mousquetaires for Nadal; Bryans Stay in Running For Calendar Year Slam @RolandGarros

Rafael Nadal crushed David Ferrer again 6-3 6-2 6-3 to capture his eighth Roland Garros title and another Coupe des Mousquetaires. Nadal is also up to 12 career Grand Slam titles and 3rd on the all-time list. The match was not particularly notable or entertaining except for a couple of rowdy protestors including a streaker with a flare who ran on the court.

You could arguably say that Nadal took the title on Friday, when he beat Novak Djokovic in a slugfest five-setter, 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 9-7. Both men put everything on the line, but Nadal just had that extra amount of prowess that put him over the top. Nadal and Djokovic are simply the two best players in the game right now.

Ferrer made his first career slam final at 31 and finally got over the semifinal hump as he took out a listless Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 3 sets and previously beat Kevin Anderson and Tommy Robredo. Tsonga upset Roger Federer in 3 sets in the quarters, while Djokovic beat Phillip Kohlschreiber and Tommy Haas to make the semis. Nadal also beat Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka in straights in Week 2.

The Bryans continued to dominate doubles, winning another French over Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut. They are still in the running for a calendar year grand slam as they won the Aussie Open as well.

—Steen Kirby

Turns out the flared-up protester in Paris was none other than French Actor Lumiere, whose career took a tailspin after a long run as a candlestick in ‘Beauty and the Beast’. We hope he gets the help he needs. —Ed.