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Third time the charm? Nadal and Federer in French Open Finals

by Erica on June 6th, 2008

Well it’s not like we didn’t see this coming. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will face off for the third straight year in the finals of the French Open. Roland Garros wouldn’t be Roland Garros without the top two players having a showdown, would it?

Nadal knocked off Novak Djokovic. Easily. Too easily to have Roger thinking the final is going to be anything but a ridiculously hard battle that’s going to be hard to win. The world number three lost in straight sets (6-4, 6-2, 7-6(3)) and never really had a prayer against Rafa. Speaking of Rafa, he has never lost at Roland Garros. Ever. He’s got a 27-0 record in Paris. Isn’t that just crazy? To think that the guy has never lost at a tournament in his entire career. That’s big.

And then you’ve got Federer. He struggled a bit with Gael Monfils, just as I predicted. Federer eased past his 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Monfils was in his first major semifinal of his career which explained the blowout of the first set, but he settled down and made a match of it. Monfils will be back around. I don’t know that he has what it takes to be the best of the best, but I think we’ll be seeing him again.

But now I find myself conflicted. Do I root for Federer? I love his style. His finesse. His mad skillz. But then there is Nadal. I love his fire. His gutsy balls-to-the-wall defense. His mastery of clay courts. Hmm…good thing I have another day to figure it out.

(Image: Newscom)
Roger Federer stretches out for a return in his match against Gael Monfils in the French Open semifinals.

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POSTED IN: French Open, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer