This is what the French Open 2007 holds in it for me. Be it anyone, the Nalbandians, the 'Rafas', the Federers or the Canas', anyone can win it and that's why I love this competition. Folks might differ from me in this respect since quite a few find this Clay Court Grand Slam too boring and even exhausting to watch, but for me this is the ultimate test of character when it comes to Tennis. Marathon matches in the sultry heat, eternal rallies and every aspect of the game tested - What else can one crave for?
The seedings will be released today, but history says that they haven't really been that critical when it comes to the French Open. Rafael Nadal, or "Rafa" was the popular choice, but with him getting beaten at the recently concluded Hamburg Open by Federer pulls the door wide open. Damn, still tough to believe the final set scoreline, 6-0 to Federer! Prior to the final, I had little doubt in my mind regarding Nadal extending the 81 match winning streak and thought that he'll carry the same in the French Open. But bang.. that's exactly what sport is.. UNPREDICTABLE!A 7-4 head to head record definitely puts the odds in Nadal's favor, but the amount of tennis that he has played in the past couple of months would have probably added to the levels of exhaustion which was evident at the Hamburg Final as well. Nadal also admitted after the match,
"I lost a little bit of power after the first set and maybe I was mentally a little bit tired."
Federer understandably is a upbeat about his chances against Nadal,
"I'm feeling very good going into the French Open and I'm excited it's coming around now."
But its not just these 2 super-humans (well almost) who have the ability to lift the trophy on June 10th. History has it - that the Brugueras, the Gaudios, the Ferreros and the Costas have come out of no where to emerge champions at Roland Garros. Match of the French Open till now for me - Andre Agassi beating Andrei Medvedev in the 5 setter marathon in 1999!
Anyone playing the prediction game? Well, the predictometer can really go wrong here. Will the man from Basel do the ultimate, and win the highly coveted Grand Slam thereby filling up the missing trophy in his kitty? Or win Rafa kick start another of his winning streaks? Or we'll have yet another Grand Slam winner? Whichever guess comes true, the party beginning May 27th is surely going to be one helluva one..
Tennis has never been the same again for me since Andre Agassi called it quits. Well, slowly gaining back interest again, though it will be tough to get it to the same in this post-Andre period..Nothing to do with the French Open, but guess this clip really says it all about Andre Agassi!
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