King of Clay

King of Clay

— ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal scripted yet another piece of French Open history by clinching the title for a fourth consecutive time, thereby becoming the only player to emulate the great Bjorn Borg’s enviable record at Roland Garros set in 1981. The 22-year-old Spaniard not only poured cold water on World No.1 Roger Federer’s hopes of winning the elusive title and complete a career Grand Slam but humiliated the champion in straight sets in a surprisingly one-sided final. Given Nadal’s awesome form coming into his favourite Grand Slam, it was just a matter of time that he prevailed ruthlessly over his opponents and the annihilation of the top-ranked player in the final, was just the perfect finishing to what was a dream French Open. Nadal’s strengths on clay will take him past the six-time French Open champion Borg sooner than later, make no mistake, but the muscular Spaniard’s domination which has seen him take his win record to 28 matches in a row will eventually place him among the all-time great clay court specialists. As for Federer who has had an ordinary 2008, losing the Australian Open final to Serb Novak Djokovic, this third consecutive loss in the final at Roland Garros to his nemesis, was anticipated to an extent, given that Nadal had defeated him at Monte Carlo and Hamburg earlier in the season. In the women’s draw, Serbian tennis sensation Ana Ivanovic’s maiden Grand Slam title, that has elevated her to the numero uno spot, is nothing but a betterment of her last year’s performance when she had to battle the top-seeded Justin Henin along with her nerves, only to lose in the final. In the absence of the former No.1 Henin, whose premature retirement in May came as a bolt from the blue, a new ‘tennis queen’ will provide women’s tennis the much-needed boost. Along with Russian Maria Sharapova and fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic, the 20-year-old Ivanovic is sure to take the game to another era of compelling rivalry.Tennis on clay can be a different ball game altogether. Strength, both physical and mental, speed and stamina are pre-requisites for success on the slow clay courts of Roland Garros. Nadal, with all these attributes, is the perfect foil on clay while Federer, the classicist on grass, will still need more tricks up his sleeves to outwit the former in Paris. The presence of the Serbs in the business end of the Grand Slam is both refreshing and inspiring. That a war-ravaged nation, that primarily patronises football, can produce tennis champions like Ivanovic, Jankovic and Djokovic, should inspire the rest to locate, develop and promote budding talents. Thanks to the All India Tennis Association initiative, the Beijing Olympics will see Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi play together in the doubles event. The senior duo has been at loggerheads for quite some time now and there was uncertainty shrouding Indian tennis over a period. But this eleventh hour patch-up after a meeting in Paris will revive India’s medal hopes in the Games. Whether they keep playing together after the Games is uncertain but what is certain is that tennis is above two individuals and their saga of differences. The new crop of players in India deserves a better deal and need to be shielded from any needless controversy in the hierarchy. Devoid of any local heroes, they can at least idolise champions like Nadal and Ivanovic. Source: Assam Tribune