Rafael Nadal Defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1 on Sunday to tie Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open singles titles. the good news for Roger is that he played better against Rafa than he had in their past four meetings at Roland Garros. Roger had a 5-2 in the first set point setting and a backhand drop shot which landed a fraction of an inch wide. Had he won that point hit, the match would have gone very differently because after that ball landed just wide, Roger's level of play fell off significantly. his first serve percentage dropped from about 80% up to that point to about 50% by the rest of the first set and halfway into the second. the serve is the one shot that you have full control, so a sudden drop in serving percentage, subject to simultaneous changes in weather, almost always indicates a mental letdown. the first serve is crucial for Roger, as he won 69% of the points when his first serve, but only 39% when he hit a second serve.
After a catch up with lackluster play in the second set, Roger returned well enough to bring it up to a tie-break, and he suffered are stronger playing to win was the third set. most noticeable better Roger's backhand, which he hit with better depth, Rafa less balls to attack. with everyone attack are backhand has helped Roger relentlessly make it stronger. He took more backhands on the rise, keeping them relatively so high on him, and when he had a slightly shorter ball kick, he produced a good number of backhand winners. still, Roger had 56 unforced errors for the match, something more than his 53 winners.
Rafa of only 27 unforced errors in a game of 273 points is an indication of how well he performed. as usual, his defense was extraordinary, often forcing Roger hit some brilliant shots to win a point. Roger's better depth gave Rafa fewer opportunities to hit winners, but he still produced 39, the most impressive of which came for the most part of his forehand. Rafa hit his first served with more spin than power, and as a result, he received 72% of his first serves in, but he showed his intelligence in the beginning of the fourth series, when he realized that Roger was tuning to his spin serves to the backhand too well, and he responded by serve considerably more difficult, and the forehand more, who threw out Roger.
Expect much more harder Rafa serve at Wimbledon, where the ball will be rewarded more speed and spin less than on clay. We also need to enter Wimbledon Roger with good faith expect, have defeated the hottest player in tennis, Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros in the semis and then play his best yet against Rafa on the Court where Rafa plays better than anyone ever has.
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