When the French Open men's draw came out, most expected to see the best two players in the world Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet in a dream 1 vs 2 final for all the marbles. That much anticipated match-up is finally here after each player was victorious in the semifinals Friday on Court Chatrier at Roland Garros.
A lot will be at stake Sunday when they meet. Nadal's Open Era record of 59 consecutive wins on clay will be on the line as well as the title he won last year for his first ever Grand Slam. On the other side, Federer's 27 match slam winning streak along with his perfect 7-0 record in slam finals will also be up for grabs. Someone's streak will come to a dramatic end when they clash on the big stage.
Both advanced in completely different fashion.
While the second seeded Spaniard Nadal posted a hard fought 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7) victory over first time semifinalist fourth seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, the top seeded Swiss Federer advanced when third seeded Argentine David Nalbandian was forced to retire due to a left side stomach strain. He was trailing Federer 6-3, 4-6, 2-5 when the pain became too much. Nalbandian became the ninth male player to retire this year and the first ever victim in a French Open semifinal.
"It's a shame," a triumphant Federer expressed to reporters after making his first ever final in Paris.
Undoubtedly, it was because for more than a set, Nalbandian had Federer on the ropes. Playing inspired tennis from the baseline, he was superior to Federer in a surprising first set in which Nalbandian broke the seven-time slam champion twice en route to a one set lead.
With Federer unable to find the range from the ground, the steadier Nalbandian took advantage to get the two breaks and claimed the first set on a loose Federer forehand which floated wide.
Astonishingly, the usually unflappable Federer continued to struggle early in the second set. After a Nalbandian hold, Federer was once again broken, making it the third time in his last four service games that he failed to hold. Things continued to look bleak when his stingy opponent held for a 3-0 lead.
"He fought hard. For one set and a half, he played perfect tennis. I really thought I was going to lose," noted Federer.
That's when the world number one finally raised his level to get back into the match. Almost like flipping on a light switch, Federer began to take the play to Nalbandian.
As he has done so often, he began to take control of points and make an assortment of winners. After a crucial hold for 1-3, Federer finally was able to break Nalbandian thanks to using the slice backhand which changed the momentum. Mixing in different shots continued to pay off.
"I had to do something. He was perfect. I hit amazing shots which got me back into the match. He wished me good luck and hoped I would win the Slam," Federer said.
After holding for 3-3, Federer continued to show off his arsenal with a stunning shot in the first point of the seventh game. During an extended rally in which Nalbandian was in control, Federer pulled off a remarkable shot for a winner to take the point. After Nalbandian volleyed a crosscourt lob, Federer ran down the ball and took an underhand forehand cut which produced a winner down the line. Always the showman, he raised his hand after the point to a delighted crowd.
"That shot allowed me to get definitely back into it," the Swiss Maestro pointed out.
Continuing to be more aggressive, Federer forced Nalbandian into some miscues including an easy miss of an overhead which led to a second straight break for 4-3.
After both players exchanged holds, Federer closed out the set to level the match. When it concluded, Nalbandian called over the trainer to treat his stomach.
"I started feeling the pain at the end of my match against Davydenko," Nalbandian said. "It was just painful to continue. I had my chances today. It's just a shame."
With Federer staying aggressive, Nalbandian had problems staying in long points due to the injury which only worsened his chances. He tried to keep points short and continued to spray balls.
It didn't take long for Federer to build a two break lead. After he went up 5-2, a noticeably sluggish Nalbandian walked up to the chair umpire and defaulted to end his chances of a first ever French Open final.
For Federer, it put him a win away from becoming only the sixth male player to complete a career Grand Slam by winning all four majors.
"I put myself in a position to do it," he expressed. "It would be really special to accomplish that feat here."
In order to accomplish that feat, he'll have to go through the defending champion Nadal and avenge a four set semifinal defeat last year.
Nadal was a straight set winner over Ljubicic to win his 13th consecutive French Open match, making his second final in a row to setup the big final against Federer.
"I am excited because I play the final of Roland Garros," Nadal exclaimed to reporters at a postmatch conference. "Sure it's more exciting if you play the No1 against the No2, so that's nice, but maybe the final of a Grand Slam is always exciting, no?"
It looked like it would be routine for Nadal when he jumped out to a quick two break 4-1 lead in the opening set. But the No. 4 seeded Ljubicic rallied to make the set interesting by getting one break back in the sixth game and holding for 3-4.
The rest of the set was a battle to see if Nadal could make his other break stand up. After Ljubicic pulled to within 4-5, the fiery Roland Garros champ served out the set, finishing it in style with a lunging forehand at the net which drew a forehand error from his opponent. The exuberant Nadal clenched his fist.
Nadal took control in the second set by breaking Ljubicic twice to go up two sets.
But with the No.2 seed in command, Ljubicic wouldn't go quietly. In an ultracompetitive third set which saw no breaks of serve or even any break points, the 27-year-old who led his home country Croatia to the Davis Cup last year raised his level.
"It takes time actually to realize how to play first and, second, to adjust also because it's the first lefty in a while for me," Ljubicic explained later.
Serving bigger and matching Nadal from the baseline, he forced a crucial tiebreak which could've prolonged the match.
In it, a Ljubicic forehand drew a Nadal error to give him a 4-2 minibreak lead to the crowd's delight, who wanted to see more tennis. However, serving up 5-3, he made a critical mistake which would swing the momentum. On a second serve, he went for an ace down the middle which missed badly for a double fault to relinquish the break, making it 5-4.
"I felt I can go for it. I made couple. I missed that one. It was bad decision," Ljubicic said.
Nadal proceeded to win the next two points on his serve including a timely ace which his opponent thought might have been out. But chair umpire Carlos Ramos confirmed that it in fact was good to give Nadal his first match point.
Ljubicic fought off the match point with an aggressive forehand down the line which Nadal couldn't handle to even the score 6-6. But Nadal took the next point on Ljubicic's serve to setup a second match point. Again, Ljubicic bravely saved it with a crosscourt backhand winner to tie it at seven.
After Nadal hit a third ace in the breaker to setup another match point, Ljubicic made the mistake of coming to the net. With the court open, Nadal ripped a pass down the line which the Croat couldn't handle to clinch the victory. Afterwards, he celebrated by pumping his fist and falling to the clay.
"That's not normal, no, especially if you know my serve," Nadal said of his timely aces in the tiebreak. "I played...with a lot of risk and this time I can convert."
Nadal will enter the final knowing he can beat Federer. He has a 5-1 record against the world number one including having prevailed in the last four including a five hour comeback win at Rome last month. Despite that, he knows what it will take to come out on top again Sunday.
"I only play my hundred percent. I need play very good match if I want to win," he said. "I need play my best for try the victory. If I don't play my best, I gonna lose, sure."
Srebotnik and Zimonjic Win Mixed Doubles Title: Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic are the 2006 French Open mixed doubles champions. The No.8 seeds teamed up to defeat No.7 seeded Elena Likhovtseva and Daniel Nestor 6-3, 6-4 for the crown Friday.
It was the third mixed slam title for Srebotnik and the first for her partner Zimonjic. They also made the U.S. Open final last year.
Henin-Hardenne Aims For Repeat Against Kuznetsova: Justine Henin-Hardenne will try to win her second straight French Open Saturday against Svetlana Kuznetsova.
A two-time winner at Roland Garros, Henin-Hardenne is going for her third win at Paris in four years. If she prevails, it would also be her fifth career major.
The fifth seeded Belgian will meet first time finalist Kuznetsova. The eighth seeded Russian who won her only slam at the '04 U.S. Open will try to become the second Russian in three years to win the French Open. Anastasia Myskina won it two years ago, making history by becoming the first ever Russian woman to take a slam.
If Henin-Hardenne wins, she would become the first woman to defend the title since Steffi Graf in 1996.
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