French Open

[Samarta]

Well it's down the semis......I hope the Federer stars are aligned.....man I want him to win....I think the guy is truly the best ever, but to be considered that, he must win.......

[Danzig]

yeah, he must.
and i think he will. i generally root for the underdog, but i'd love to see this guy achieve a Grand slam, that would be awesome. and man, he is GOOD.

[Smooth Operator]

Nadal is scary good on this surface. Dude just doesn't make many mistakes out there. Fed's gonna have to play the match of his life to beat him on Sunday.

I hope he does...

[Samarta]

Woohoo, it's all set.....I'm predicting a classic....Federer 10 - 8 in the 5th....lol...I'd rather see him straight set him...

[Cannon Shell]

Federer +170
Nadal -200

This will be a classic French open final. Both men are playiing well and Federer has a little confidence beating Nadal on clay last warmup tournament. Nadal is definitely a special player on this surface. His confidence and will are huge on clay. He is very beatable on all other surfaces.

This is the biggest tournament in Federer's life to this point. He puts himself as a strong candidate as the best Tennis player ever if he wins this against Nadal.

[saucon17]

Originally Posted by pgardn

This is the biggest tournament in Federer's life to this point. He puts himself as a strong candidate as the best Tennis player ever if he wins this against Nadal.

Couldn't agree more. How great Sampras, It's hard to believe how dominating Federer is. Should be a classic battle at Roland Garros. Also congrats to Justine Henin for winning her third straight French Open

[Samarta]

an hour away..i'm pumped

[brockguy]

great game so far. Fed started off so well, but couldnt convert his break points.. If he wins the 2nd set here, we could have an epic on our hands..

[Seattleallstar]

Federer is getting head on right at the right time

[SCUDSBROTHER]

All you Federer ball lickers can wait another year.

[saucon17]

Nadal was just awesome, Federer just had no answers against the master of clay courts. Federer will bouncce back an win on the grass at Wimbledon.

[Samarta]

Oh well, another chance lost....Federer played really bad and it is simply that at that venue Nadal is in his head....Federer beat himself....at one point 1/16 break conversions and a 37% first serve % in the first set...so he goes onto to win everything else this...I think realistically he's got one maybe two more legit chances at winning the French....

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

All you Federer ball lickers can wait another year.

No Scuds you will have to wait another year for Nadal's Gonads. Federer will win the next major. HOw in the hell is the guy gonna win off clay...? like Wimbeldon with Federer around. No flippin way with that looping forehand on grass.

Federer showed clear signs of resignation to defeat. I dont particularly like that. Borg won on grass and clay and hardcourts, the true sign of an all around game. So did McEnroe, just not near as often as Borg.

[brockguy]

yeah, Fed was slightly disappointing in the last two sets and just simply made way too many mistakes..Yeah, he had to go for shots because Nadal is so good at returning them but Ive seen Fed play far better than today.... He might rue this lost opportunity today because Nadal didnt play his bet stuff today and this is a guy who is still improving...

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Seriously,what % of matches on clay does Nadal lose ? 2%,and Federer got that already this year(not to mention this particular clay court appears to be Nadal's best venue...no matter what.) It will take an injury to Nadal(for Federer to win the French.)That's certainly possible.Didn't it already happen in 2004? Seems like Nadal was injured for the French. The thing is though that even a player like Davydenko was competitive against Federer in the semi this year.He choked on almost every big point,but it wasn't like Federer was superb on Friday.Roger just doesn't like this venue.I have never seen that forehand that off.He is a little more one dimensional(power serve and groundstrokes) than people would like to admit.His assets are quite neutralized at the French.

[timmgirvan]

I think Roger is close to the Best of all time...but only has a 'touch' of Tigers' Killer mentality.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

Seriously,what % of matches on clay does Nadal lose ? 2%,and Federer got that already this year(not to mention this particular clay court appears to be Nadal's best venue...no matter what.) It will take an injury to Nadal(for Federer to win the French.)That's certainly possible.Didn't it already happen in 2004? Seems like Nadal was injured for the French. The thing is though that even a player like Davydenko was competitive against Federer in the semi this year.He choked on almost every big point,but it wasn't like Federer was superb on Friday.Roger just doesn't like this venue.I have never seen that forehand that off.He is a little more one dimensional(power serve and groundstrokes) than people would like to admit.His assets are quite neutralized at the French.

He's one dimensional because that dimension is so good that he never has to go to plan b.....the big difference in the French is he's hitting from his eyeballs instead of stepping in and pounding at knee level....you don't win Wimbledon like he does strictly from the baseline.....the guy has many different dimensions, it's just that Nadal is this era's spoiler....he's a one surface specialist that is a perfect fit on clay.....also Nadal being left handed makes it even more difficult for Federer.....sucks cuz I have seen everyone going back to the mid 70's and this guy is the best I've ever seen.....I could put a combination of several players together and make his equal, but that's it...but....he's still gotta win on the clay....

Dokovic is one to look out for from now on. I'm expecting he'll make a serious run at Wimbledon.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Samarta

He's one dimensional because that dimension is so good that he never has to go to plan b.....the big difference in the French is he's hitting from his eyeballs instead of stepping in and pounding at knee level....you don't win Wimbledon like he does strictly from the baseline.....the guy has many different dimensions, it's just that Nadal is this era's spoiler....he's a one surface specialist that is a perfect fit on clay.....also Nadal being left handed makes it even more difficult for Federer.....sucks cuz I have seen everyone going back to the mid 70's and this guy is the best I've ever seen.....I could put a combination of several players together and make his equal, but that's it...but....he's still gotta win on the clay....

That f'n Lerch Lefty power server from Croatia won Wimbledon.If that guy wasn't one dimensional I don't know who is.What exactly does Nadal do to win the French? He what? Is quicker? Makes shots? Can paw at the ball like a gifted athlete only can? The French takes power out of the equation,and you find out who the best athlete really is.The other major events are all power events(as far as men are concerned.)Who can hit it harder,and still control it.If Roger is such a gifted athlete then the French Open is the place where that would be displayed.Sampras,and Federer are the best 2 power players of the last 20 years,but if they were great athletes they would have won at the French..Agassi did.