Ted Robinson’s Matchpoints

The stat came in the third set of Rafa Nadal’s first-round win over Andreas Beck. After nine service games, Nadal had lost a total of 8 points.

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It reminded me of last year’s Wimbledon final – through four-and-a-half sets, Nadal’s serve had been broken once. By the best player on the planet. On grass. With one ace.

There is the essence of Nadal. He doesn’t blast serves. He doesn’t win a free set with aces as Roger Federer did in last year’s classic five-setter.

Nadal just holds serve.

How? I keep recalling Johnny Mac’s statement last July that Nadal was the modern-day Bjorn Borg, the player who won matches through physical play — the player that John remembered as being “impossible to get a ball past.”

And there is an apt description of Nadal, even on grass where he hugs the baseline.

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Our wait for an American to make a 2008 push continues. Sam Querrey, John Isner and Donald Young (to fellow American Jesse Levine) all lost in the first round. Young has lost first round in both Paris and Wimbledon — same with Querrey, although he drew Federer in Paris.

Isner had a tough draw at Wimby with Ernests Gulbis, but as some point one of the young Americans needs to win some tough matches.

Like Wayne Odesnik taking out Guillermo Canas in Paris or Bobby Reynolds winning first round at Wimbledon.

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Well done by Lindsey Davenport in overcoming a significant leg injury that required sophisticated taping. Davenport was pushed to the third set by an anonymous European but managed to call on her classic ball striking to survive. Her third round, against Elena Dementieva, could be tough.

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Great Britain’s hope is that Andy Murray can reach his first slam quarter where he would likely meet Nadal. Murray comes across in interviews as calmer than the player derailed by “court rage” in the past. Can he handle, as Tim Henman did so well, the heat of a country’s intense focus?

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.

The Americans have found the red clay, Andy Roddick and James Blake arriving in Rome this week. Hope is that improved results await at Roland Garros, as the bar can’t be lower after last year’s troubles.

Rafa Nadal uses this time of year as his personal marathon, playing every week on the surface he so loves. But even the superhuman occasionally stumble upon kryptonite. Nadal’s was his decision to play everywhere.

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So, in his third straight week on clay, Rafa was bounced in his first match of the Rome Masters by J. C. Ferrero. After failing to break at 4-4, 0-40 in the first set, Nadal ran out of gas and offered little reply to a strong serving performance from Ferrero.

No alarm should be taken from this result- the days off before Hamburg should benefit Nadal.

Instead, I offer another view of the “King of Clay.” This comes from an American now living in Barcelona, a knowledgeable tennis fan who attended three days of the Godo Seat last week.

If ever Nadal were to take a week off in the clay season, this would have been the time. But how can he miss a tournament in Spain? Our correspondent: “The crowd seemed most excited by Nadal’s presence (due to his international stardom both on court, and on TV and in magazines.)”

Interesting that the crowd displayed strong play for fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, the decided underdog in the final. It also took any edge off a match between two good friends.

Nadal won and the true view of this champion came in the aftermath when few eyes are on him. Luckily, our correspondent was there: “As Nadal was walking off the court, there were a group of kids trying to get autographs. Rafa stopped and signed every autograph he could, then handed his winning racquet to a young girl. The look on her face upon receiving the racquet was an unforgettable moment…she absolutely lit up! It was a great moment, only witnessed by the remaining few in the stadium. He is clearly someone who cares about his fans.”

Strong move by the USTA to enter an agreement with FFT to swap wild cards at the respective majors. There was a playoff in Florida last week won by Madison Brengle and Wayne Odesnik. Their experience in playing main draw at Roland Garros can only help reverse our recent clay results.

Talked to Pete Sampras before his San Jose exhibition Monday night and came away convinced, though he admits temptation, that he will not come back to play, not even another Wimbledon.

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No Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Jordan resurrections of an aging superstar are likely with Pete.

And Pete’s answer to the question cemented that view. “I don’t need it,” he said. That’s a very important distinction from wanting to play again, a feeling to which Pete admits. The aforementioned stars, and countless other greats, competed beyond their time because of the need to be in the arena, not simply desire.

Sampras is happy with his family, two young sons and a wife who is dabbling in her acting career. His time on court affords him the adulation any champion loves, without any of the accompanying pressure. He is playing more on Jim Courier’s Champions Tour but I sense the exhibitions, particularly with Roger Federer, are Pete’s true pleasure.

He is expansive talking about the friendship he has struck with the man stalking Pete’s record. They are similar people, Pete using the phrase “humble champion” to describe Federer, the very term so often used about Pete in his career.

Tennis will win as Federer approaches and likely surpasses Pete’s 14 Slams. Unlike baseball’s melodrama of last summer, Sampras freely says he wants to be on hand if Federer wins his 15th (Australia travel may be too much.) But if the day comes, and I think the last few will be tougher than most imagine for Roger, the passing of the tennis torch will be done with style and class.

One contrast is obvious: whereas Andre Agassi, Pete’s eternal rival, morphs into a multi-layered businessman with interests both philanthropic (schools) and profit-driven (resort hotels), Pete is adjusting to a life formed by a single-minded focus on tennis. So the search for post-playing options has been more involved.

It’s the price one pays for the mantle of champion. Pete admits he is most proud of his consistency — 5 consecutive years finishing No. 1 — but the cost of that is paid when the racquets are put away. That’s why Pete is playing again, casual though it may be, and why he and Federer, headed to NYC March 10, are slowly becoming linked as the two greatest to play the game.

Asides from San Jose: Another foreign-born but American-trained player is this week’s rage on the men’s tour. Kei Nishikori, 18 year-old Japanese-American, developed his game at the Bolletieri Academy on Florida. Beating James Blake in Delray Beach to win his first ATP title earned him a San Jose wild card. He won his first round and draws Andy Roddick tonight. A win over Roddick would catapult the teen into the Top 100 and grab everyone’s attention.

Meanwhile, a lost opportunity for Donald Young. His first round opponent, Hyung-Taik Lee, withdrew from San Jose with back problems. The late sub, American Wayne Odesnik, took Young out. Donald has some pressure to back up his strong year-end run with some main-draw wins while his rank allows him direct entries.