Ted Robinson’s Matchpoints

Speechless – that’s the state Rafa Nadal left us in Sunday. No one, anywhere at anytime, could have imagined Roger Federer rendered so impotent. It was impossible to conceive of the great Federer so helpless on any surface, even the red clay Nadal so loves.

What Rafa sent Sunday was a strong bulletin, if not a warning: don’t anoint Fed yet. Don’t believe anyone will beat me (Nadal) on this red clay. Don’t think there is kryptonite anywhere.

Check out MediaZone Tennis | E-mail Ted at MediaZone’s Mailbag | Sign up for my RSS Feed

Indeed, Nadal played the role of Clark Kent Sunday, changing into his Superman pirate shorts and sleeveless short before taking the court where he has never lost.

Federer talked the role, speaking confidently of his improvement on clay and the design given him by Jose Higueras. If true, there needs to be a serious recalibration by Federer for the stark truth is that the gap between himself and Nadal on clay has widened in the last year.

Nadal is sick, a heaving mass of muscle who moves like a dancer on the tricky surface and strikes winning shots from the most defensive of positions. At the very moment one thinks he has Nadal beaten, he strikes a winning blow.

Nadal is James Bond… or Jack Bauer.

So the more relevant question, for there is neither logic nor hope in wondering about Federer’s chances on clay, is whether the pendulum swings on grass. As unnatural as the surface is for Rafa, he solves it more definitively than Roger does clay. Rafa has come closer to winning Wimbledon than Roger at Roland Garros. And there is every reason to wonder if this is the year that Fed’s reign at SW19 could be toppled.

Novak Djokovic is a contender, although still a step behind the big 2 on clay and grass. Rafa has yet to prove he can play on the hardcourts, particularly after Wimbledon, but there is no one yet able to disrupt the Dynamic Duo in this spring doubleheader. Yes, even Andy Roddick has been able to insert himself into the equation, although it would be nice to see America’s No. 1 do so when few expect.

The great Bjorn Borg watched in awe as Nadal thoroughly dismantled one of the game’s greatest. Nadal is clearly Borg’s equal on clay and Fed has matched the Swede’s five straight Wimbledons. Is it clear that we are enjoying the greatest rivalry in the history of this great game?

It was a final of two eminently likable women. Both Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina had reached the moment honestly, the product of hard work, seizing opportunity, growth of mind and rejection of fame over results.

Either women winning the crown was a win and there aren’t many championship matches to which one takes that feeling.

What most wanted to see was a good fight. The recent history of women’s finals at RG is miserable — seven years since a 3-setter, six since a remotely competitive final. Just give us two people playing through their nerves was a commonly held if not voiced thought.

Check out MediaZone Tennis | E-mail Ted at MediaZone’s Mailbag | Sign up for my RSS Feed

And the pair delivered. Ivanovic was frozen in the moment last year but he began this match striking her forehand boldly. Unlike last year and despite a healthy wind on this day, she had no issues with her toss.

Safina was the rookie but handled her first Slam final with few nerves. There some misses that hurt and a second serve problem, but overall she fought with the resolve that brought her to this day.

It was never more evident than the seventh game of the second set, a must hold for Safina. She battled through 7 deuces and multiple forehand winners from Ivanovic to hold.

That game was her last gasp — Ivanovic took 8 of the next 9 points to calmly win the title. But Safina was able to stand tall at the end, although she snuck in a reference to the “annoying” support of the Ivanovic group. Ana acknowledged so much in her speech, which makes me wonder if the tennis world will have to get used to the Serbs or will the newcomers adapt to the mores of tennis?

Justine Henin was in the first row to watch and then awarded the trophy she had won 4 times. It caused me to wonder: when JH and Kim Clijsters played for the 2003 title here, could anyone have imagined that 5 years later both Belgians would be retired while the Sisters would still be active? Not me.

It’s folly to think this will be the lone title for Ivanovic. She is too strong of forehand and serve and now owns the improved fitness that enabled her to claim this crown. What we will watch is how she handles her newfound dual status: #1 and Slam champion.

CORRECTION: Courtesy of tennis maven Leo Levin: Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker played in 3 consecutive Wimbledon finals (1988-90) so Fed and Nadal will be the second pair to achieve this in the Open Era.

Once again, tennis’ premier duo has made history. Sunday, when Rafa and Roger play for the French championship, it will be the first time that the same two men have played three straight years for a Slam title.

Honestly, it’s hard to see a different outcome. For much of Friday afternoon, Rafa Nadal neutered Novak Djokovic. The young Serb, whose abundant confidence has pricked some nerves (see: Federer, Roger), was dazed and confused. He wandered around Court Centrale with slumped shoulders and no apparent remedy.

Check out MediaZone Tennis | E-mail Ted at MediaZone’s Mailbag | Sign up for my RSS Feed

That’s the measure of Nadal; he gets in the head of foes like no other player on clay. He administers a physical beating that takes a huge mental toll.

To do that to Djokovic, who just a month ago took a set from Rafa in Hamburg and was playing for the No. 2 world rank, was staggering. Preparing for his semi, Roger could not help but have noticed.

After all, Fed was seen practicing Thursday with a LEFTY! That’s right, the day before his semi with Gael Monfils, Fed imported a young French lefty, undoubtedly to prepare for Rafa.

So, Rafa is in Roger’s head. How could it be otherwise when the clay docket reads 8-1 Nadal? Can Roger change the trend? Does Jose Higueras have a formula for success that a hundred players/coaches have failed to find?

Federer did not inspire such confidence against Monfils. The young Frenchman took a first set spanking but did not fold, spindle or mutilate. And Roger seemed surprisingly unable to deliver the knockout blow.

In the fourth set, as Monfils gamely fought off a pair of match points serving at 4-5, Mats Wilander commented on EuroSport that he was not sure where Federer’s head was. I have never once wondered about Fed’s focus or shot selection in a match as important as a Slam semi. Yet, here was a champion making the point. Was Fed looking too closely at Nadal? If so, another measure is seen of Rafa’s impact.

My bottom line: there has not been 1 moment during these 2 weeks when Rafa has demonstrated one iota of vulnerability. Not once has he given anyone reason to believe he will do anything but win his fourth straight French. The great Bjorn Borg will be in attendance to see his feat matched.

Talked to Pete Holtermann of the ATP, along with Greg Sharko a wise tennis mind that is an underappreciated asset in selling the sport to the American media. I asked Pete for his names to watch this summer. His thoughts:

* Robby Ginepri’s boost in the rankings, to between 50-60, helps him with direct entries and to relax in those events. The last time that happened, in the summer/fall of 2005, Robby shot to 15 in the world.

* The Olympics will affect the USOS in many ways; one being depleted fields in the August events. That could help Donald Young and John Isner rack up points in events like Washington, Los Angeles and New Haven.

* Then there are those fighting their way out of the Challengers. Tall South African Kevin Anderson and teen Kei Nishikori, from Japan/Florida, are perfect examples. Nishikori is already being subject to the suffocating Japanese media (I saw this first-hand in baseball) and uses assumed names in hotels. He has signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Sony and is likely to receive a wild card to the Olympics.

* Watered down fields in the Euro clay court events of the summer could help Younes El Aynoaui in his comeback. At 36, he has already jumped to 151 and some good summer events could put him back in the top 100.

* Amer Delic is returning from a surgery to suppress excess perspiration and won last week’s Carson challenger.

* And the last name that many root for is Taylor Dent, trying one more return from complex back surgery. His first challenger was a first-round loss in Carson.

Sunday reaffirmed greatness in men’s tennis. There are three above the rest, far beyond the field and two of them, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, emphasized that gap in consecutive matches at Roland Garros.

Djokovic methodically dismantled top Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu. There was terrific crowd support and huge momentum for Mathieu. But after one set, it was clear that he had no weapon with which to hurt Djokovic. Equally, Djokovic has no weakness for a foe to attack.

Check out MediaZone Tennis | E-mail Ted at MediaZone’s Mailbag | Sign up for my RSS Feed

Thus, the result was inevitable. And it is just as apparent that Djokovic will be better prepared to fight Nadal if they arrive at their anticipated semi.

Djokovic moves beautifully and is not fazed by clay. As intimidating as Rafa’s RG record can be, Djokovic has an enhanced court presence after joining the ranks of Champions in Australia.

Rafa had a bizarre match with Fernando Verdasco, dominating for a set before rain stopped play in the second game of the second set. After 45 minutes, and 10 minutes after play resumed on the other show court, Nadal sat on his chair, munching bananas and calling for the trainer. Word from courtside was that Nadal felt the footing was not suitable and was simply stalling to give the clay more time to dry.

When play finally resumed, Verdasco barely moved, bothered by a right leg injury. Verdasco’s lack of effort created a phenomenon never before seen at RG — Nadal playing before a crowd no more than 4,000.

This was Rafa, the marquee star of Paris. The undefeated champion of RG who is always scheduled in “prime time,” late afternoon into early evening, was now playing in a quiet arena against a hobbled foe.

The deathly silence carried into the third set, when Verdasco received treatment that allowed him to play with some verve.

The point is that Nadal never wavered in play despite the rain, the court, a hobbled opponent and no energy in the crowd. The man is simply a rock at Roland Garros, winning 25 straight matches losing only 7 sets. In this week’s 4 matches, his foes are holding 30 percent of their service games. That absurd number can’t continue but reflects Nadal’s utter dominance as he enters the final three matches.

What I didn’t know is that the U.S .has the No. 1 seed in the junior girls play, Melanie Oudin. More on her later in the week.

And the Bryans defeated fellow Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey to advance in the men’s doubles.

Robby Ginepri has played the role of Lazarus before. In 2005, he arrived in Indianapolis with a rank around 100, in danger of missing the cut for the US Open, without an endorsement deal and with a new coach, Francisco Montana.

That hot week in Indiana, wearing clothes gifted him by a friend representing a fledgling company (UnderArmour), Ginepri won the tournament.

Check out MediaZone Tennis | E-mail Ted at MediaZone’s Mailbag | Sign up for my RSS Feed

And it started a run that saw Robby win 4 straight 5-set matches at the Open, reach the semis and finally ascend to 15 in the world.

He couldn’t sustain that pace, and the next 3 years have again been a struggle.

Falling to 171 in the world while young guns like Donald Young and Sam Querrey make their way could have pushed Ginepri to the end, but he has continued to fight.

His best move: connecting with Jose Higueras, whose credentials are unchallenged.

Now Ginepri is the last American in Paris, reaching the fourth round, not done by an American man since Agassi 5 years ago. And the shocking part has been Robby’s comments, that he never knew how to construct a point on clay, never understood how to play with his head until his alliance with Higueras and Diego Ayala.

Two questions: Why does it take players so long to understand the importance of strategy on clay? And does anyone doubt Roger Federer’s chances with Higueras in his corner?
 
Ginepri will play Fernando Gonzalez Monday, as the Chilean was one of Saturday’s 5-set heroes. Both Gonzo and Ivan Ljubicic rallied from 0-2 deficits to win, Nikolay Davydenko the shocking victim of Ljubicic’s comeback.

Inspired effort from Julien Benneteau who played 5 sets Friday and came back the next day to knock out a rested Robin Soderling. 

Could anyone have imagined the following representation in the men’s 16: France 5, Spain 4?

The women are loaded with Russians. In fact, 4 will play for one semi spot. Maria Sharapova is favored as she continues to fight as she displayed in an 81-minute first set against Karin Knapp.  But watch for Vera Zvonareva, talented but fragile, who appears healthy and has the game to move forward on clay.
 
Sunday belongs to the men on the big stage, with Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic playing back-to-back as they move towards a marquee semi.
 

This Friday was one of mixed emotions depending on your viewpoint: for France, it was a day of joy as four men, (Paul-Henri Mathieu, Julien Benneteau, Jeramy Chardy and Florent Serra) advanced while for the U.S. it was a day of shock as the Sisters were sent packing in bookend matches to a long day of warm sunshine.

Check out MediaZone Tennis | E-mail Ted at MediaZone’s Mailbag | Sign up for my RSS Feed

Venus falling, in the fading light of a Friday night was not a surprise. After all, she has never been a serious threat here, reaching one final in a year where she played Robin to Serena’s Batman. And she hadn’t played much since taking a break from the tour in March.

Watching the Venus profile on HBO’s Real Sports emphasized several points of interest: Venus is the most likable Williams, rooted in some measure of humility, more interested in personal growth than fame (evidenced by the pride she takes in her recent design degree- she wore her class ring at RG), and more comfortable in her own skin than little Sis.

Friday’s results proved one thing that I have believed: Venus will never again be a threat at a major other than Wimbledon. She is a 1-court star: Centre Court. At 28 by the time she arrives at SW19, she is retro only when she steps onto that hallowed grass. As a four-time champ, she must hope the Club schedules her accordingly and keeps her on her “home” away from home.

Serena is baffling. She was horrid Friday. There is no other way to candidly describe her performance. It was the universal view among commentators, many of whom are champions. How she could possibly play in such a manner, so lazy afoot, so sloppy of form, could only be explained by her own admission that she “didn’t want to be here.”

If true, then she should be back in Florida, SoCal or wherever she chases the fame that is so important to her. My partner John McEnroe couldn’t hide his feeling that Katerina Srebotnik deserved her day, an honest hard-working decent player whose previous bests had been in doubles. On one sunny day in Paris, she stood tall in Paris.
 
The French didn’t try to hide their chauvinism Friday, scheduling Michael Llodra and Mathieu on the main show court while sending Serena, Nadal and Djokovic, champions all, to the second court, a good show court but still number 2 in the rank.

Neither do the French try to honor their champion. Roger Federer was granted his wish for a Monday start, thus Rafa Nadal fell victim to rain and played his first 3 matches on consecutive days.

Fed plays a Monday-Thursday-Saturday first week while Rafa went Wed-Thurs-Fri. Surviving that siege gives Nadal a tremendous edge as he must now play only 4 matches over 9 days to win a fourth RG.

So much on this Thursday, but the highlight was simultaneous play from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the first time I can recall that at any major. Rain caused the overlap with the 2 greats occupying the show courts in the late afternoon; both had similar results, although Federer had a small glitch, dropping the first set tiebreak to scrappy Albert Montanes. Too soon to project the final weekend, but Federer is hitting his backhand well and seems healthy with his normal movement. It’s not enough to beat Nadal when Rafa is on, but it is more than enough to keep Federer #2 in the clay court world.

Disappointment for James Blake, who lost a chance to make the second week at RG. With his section wide open, Blake needed a win over a talented teen, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia. A tough draw no doubt, but Blake is still searching for the Slam where he wins a few that he’s not supposed to. James got this match to 1-1, but dropped serve late in the third and never recovered.

Mardy Fish had a chance with a hobbled Lleyton Hewitt playing at 80 percent efficiency (torn hip cartilage). But Mardy, after dropping a tight first set, couldn’t hold a break advantage in the second and went out in straight.

Bobby Reynolds fell in four to the resurgent Nico Lapentti, who made the main draw at 31.

But Robby Ginepri, late in the night, pulled off the stunner, knocking out seeded Igor Andreev in four sets. More details on that match to come tomorrow.

So there are 2 Americans in the third round, Wayne Odesnik draws Novak Djokovic late Friday (around noon ET, 9 AM PT) and today Justin Gimelstob told me of his admiration for Odesnik. This is a rare young player who seeks help, solicits advice and enjoys clay. Wayne is working with Spaniard Felix Mantilla while in Paris and has Francisco Montana, late of Robby Ginepri, at home. But he looks at the French as a challenge, not an obligation. Odds are his stay will end Friday night, but Odesnik has put his name in the mix of American tennis.

Low road comment of this Roland Garros comes from tournament doctor, Dr. Montalvan. Speaking in defense of Richard Gasquet’s withdrawal, Dr. Montalvan said it was “my personal opinion” that Andy Roddick withdrew because clay is not his favorite surface. Why a doctor sees the need to opine is a different story, but Roddick had played the last 7 French Opens and will be in Madrid for September’s Davis Cup semi against Nadal. Roddick’s record on court can be addressed but not his competitiveness.

How open is this men’s draw? One of the following four: Gulbis, Michael Llodra, Simone Bolelli or Lapentti will be a quarterfinalist.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing: the Eurosport commentator said that Nikolay Davydenko’s win over Marat Safin was “huge” for any win over Safin is significant. Davydenko is 4 in the world, and posted a Roddick-Nadal double to win Miami. Safin is 73 in the world. That statement needed a hyperbole check.

Ten o’clock on Sunday morning and they stream from the Porte D’Auteuil metro station by the hundreds, intense tennis fans ready to enjoy a fairly bland first day of Roland Garros.

It made me feel good about the sport. Andy Roddick is right when he wonders why tennis barely blips the mass audience scale at home while it is a powerful sport in many other parts of the world.

On the first Sunday of 2008’s clay championship, there was little of note other than a disappointing first round exit from the wayward Nicole Vaidisova and a 5-set loss for former champ and 2007 quarterfinalist Carlos Moya..

And then there was Guga.

It was Guga’s farewell, a last trip to the court that made him a champion. His hips ache and will likely be replaced sooner rather than later. The graceful movement that characterized his excellence on the terre battue is just a memory. Now he has trouble rotating on the backhand, nor can he push quickly to chase shots laterally.

Although the effort was there, and he served respectably, this was really a shell of the great Guga.

Yet one thing didn’t change — Guga’s smile. A Cheshire cat grin that communicated the sense that he knew he was running a scam on the world, getting to play this wonderful game and being paid to do so.

We sports fans are suckers for smiles like Guga’s. Most of us understand how hard it is for many athletes to look like they are enjoying themselves in the heat of battle. So we embrace a Guga who smiles broadly in the face of imminent disaster.

I know not if it’s his inner surfer or a great mask of his inner feelings, but I will forever treasure Guga’s approach.

And gauging the response from a full Court Central Sunday afternoon, so will thousands of appreciative fans.

We all remember the unknown kid grinning uncontrollably as he soared to a thoroughly unexpected title in 1997, and then silenced the “one-hit wonder” cynics by backing up 2000 and 2001 titles.

And we remember the champion who drew a heart into the red clay after his third title, then wore a handmade T-shirt declaring his love for Roland Garros.

Often it is painful to watch the shell of a great player, but it wasn’t that way with Guga. He handled his last phase with grace, character and laughter. And that’s how I will always remember one of the greatest on clay.
 
Two corrections from yesterday:

* Hugo Armando, a US vet of challengers, won one round of qualifying thus the US had 2 of 8 entrants win at least one match.

* Scoville Jenkins. the lone US qualifier, draws lucky loser Luis Horna in the first round. Jenkins was due to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (not Arnaud Clement), but Tsonga pulled with a bum knee and Horna, a true clay courter, took his spot.

Rain will be the story of week 1 at Roland Garros. Unlike Tuesday, there should be windows sufficient to squeeze in play all days. But, patience will be the ultimate virtue and players will be tested with play on consecutive days. When play resumes Wednesday, expect heavy Hamburg-like conditions, unlike the hot dry day that helped Rafael Nadal in his final with Roger Federer here a year ago.

Some thoughts:
* The immediate winners in the aftermath of Justine Henin’s retirement were Maria Sharapova who inherited the #1 rank and Svetlana Kuznetsova who gained a favorable draw at RG. Henin’s absence placed the Sisters in the same half, and Kuznetsova safely in the other half, facing only a wobbly Anna Chakvetadze as a serious obstacle.

Kuznetsova conquered the conditions to win Tuesday while Sharapova will finally play her first match Wednesday morning.

* Roger Federer earned an early schedule win. Federer, a creature of extreme habit, successfully earned a Monday start while Nadal was placed on Tuesday’s card. Because of TV and ticket-holder greed, Nadal always plays late in the Paris day, thus leaving him vulnerable to rain. He never took the court until 7:30 Tuesday night, played 2 games and will return Wednesday to finish (forecast, by the way, is very good later in the day). But, now Nadal faces the certainty of at least one back-to-back sequence of play. Remember that at last year’s Wimbledon, Federer was calmly through in his half while Nadal played 6 times in the last 7 days. Only he can say whether that grind took a toll in the fifth set of their memorable final.

* Casual American fans dismiss this event for its blizzard of anonymous clay-courters. But it’s so refreshing to see the love for the sport and the resulting focus in a place like Paris. They want a local champion so badly, having waited 25 years since Noah (the weak attempt to adopt Mary Pierce in 2000 doesn’t count), that it struck me to see the cover of a major sports magazine, L’Equipe, feature Alize Cornet, France’s rising female hope. Cornet is only 18, and one need look at Gasquet to see the danger of premature hype. But Cornet gives the appearance of someone who relishes the bright lights. Given the melodrama here over Mauresmo and Gasquet’s problems with pressure and the unending injuries to Tsonga, look for Cornet to become the “hometown” hope.

Thought I’d update before leaving for Paris with the draw…but to my surprise, no draw available Thursday night in the U.S.

So some random thoughts instead…

All have weighed in on the Justine Henin retirement. My first thought was medical. Perhaps she was warned about a recurrence of the vicious virus contracted several years ago that caused a curtailed playing schedule.

Then I thought about Key Biscayne in early April and a match that was shocking. Remember that the most significant tennis story of 2007 was Henin’s 3 QF Slam wins over Serena Williams. A rivalry rooted in deep-seated emotion had been tilted heavily to Henin.

On the hot afternoon in South Florida, Serena turned the tables in a 6-2, 6-0 pounding that wasn’t as close as the score reads. Afterwards, Henin confessed a lack of fight.

Maybe that day was the telling one for Henin. If she truly couldn’t summon the fight against her top rival, then what chance did she stand as a lightweight fighting heavyweights?

Henin’s greatest gift to tennis will forever be her standing as proof that women of slighter stature could still win. She outhit Davenport, Capriati, Sharapova, Venus and Serena, all bigger and stronger players. Without her spirit, though, she may have felt she could no longer compensate for her size.

Her 2003 SF win over Capriati at the Open (4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in 3:03) is the best women’s match I have witnessed (barely edging the Venus-Lindsey Wimbledon final of 2005.) She never cheated fans, save for the mysterious quit at the 2007 Aussie final. And no one will forget the first of her 4 French titles, the little girl who promised her mom (who died not long after) she would one day win that championship.

Without Henin, is Serena suddenly the French favorite? You could make this case: she is the only former champ in the field, she beat everyone in the world last year except Henin and there isn’t another player who can match Serena’s resume and belief (save Venus and Sharapova, neither a true threat at RG.)

We’ll return Saturday from RG with thoughts on the draw…and come back for daily updates from Paris.