Nadal Wins #9 in Paris, Maintains Control of #1 Ranking
Rafael Nadal won his ninth French Open title and fourteenth Grand Slam title (now tied for second most all time with Sampras, behind Federer) on Sunday 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4 over an erratic and ill Novak Djokovic.
Their seventh career slam final meeting was probably their least competitive and lowest quality. Djokovic played a good first two sets, but Rafa began to get a firm grip on the match.
Djokovic, who said he had been sick the past few days, struggled with erratic play and returned poorly in sets three and four, and though Djokovic was able to break back from 4-2 down in the fourth, he got broken in the last game on a double fault at 4-5 and lost the match.
Nadal, meanwhile, was struggling with back pain late in the match, and we may not see him again until Wimbledon.
Nadal also confirms control of the number one ranking with the victory and has room to expand his lead in the rankings post-grass season, while Djokovic continues to be looking for answers, having now lost his third straight Grand Slam final.
Earlier in the second week, Nadal drubbed Dusan Lajovic, David Ferrer and Andy Murray in consecutive matches, while Djokovic didn’t drop a set against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Milos Raonic. Djokovic also won in 4 sets against first time Grand Slam semifinalist Ernests Gulbis, who by virtue of his showing has now entered the top 10.
Gulbis upset Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych in consecutive matches to reach the semifinals. Murray returns to the top 5 by making the semis. Murray and Gulbis have to be very pleased with their French Open showings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3M-Mmsr0_8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDS-Mgh7wbg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mor1RgzJCQg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcb6aDdvw8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssy2poR4qGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XWDjdf0lcA
Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin won a home title for the French as they got past Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez for the Mens doubles title.
—-Steen Kirny, Tennis East Coast
Tennis Atlantic 