Nadal put to rest, aiding Federer's quest

The impossible happened yesterday night. Rafael Nadal was ousted from the French Open in just the 4th round….yes sir there is no printing error and you read it right. The invincible French master succumbed to the big serving and hitting of world no. 25 Robin Soderling of Sweden. Sports is rather funny and unpredictable, and nothing epitomizes the fallibility of man better. The indefatigable Spanish Matador looked exhausted and lost in the course of his defeat. Women’s world no. 4 Elena Dementieva had predicted that she didn’t see Nadal defending his red sand territory this time as he looked tired. And, although the comment seemed quite preposterous at that time, her observation was bang on. The Spaniard suffered his first ever loss at the Roland Garros, breaking his 31 match winning streak at the Grand Slam. He came so close to becoming the first man to win 5 consecutive French Open titles but now remains at level with the legendary Bjorn Borg with 4. Ironical isn’t it? Borg’s record of 5 back-to-back Wimbledon titles also remained unbeaten last year after Roger Federer gunning for his 6th successive triumph fell to none other than Nadal in the final.
The world no.1 had last year inflicted quite some pain upon his arch-rival, leaving him in tears as he swept away his most prized possession at The Queen’s Club. Federer had remarked he would never trade the Wimbledon trophy for anything in the world, not even the ever elusive French Open, the only Grand Slam missing from his cabinet. Well, don’t know if Rafa feels the same about his beloved trophy but we do seem to be heading for a trade-off with Fed-Ex suddenly the firm favourite to lift the French crown. But, as the Swiss Maestro nears his goal of crossing the final frontier, a hitch still remains in his path to glory, as his ultimate triumph would have been not just lifting the title but also knocking out his nemesis Rafa enroute to victory. The conquest would have been sweeter then, just as in the case of Nadal, whose win over the Swiss ace at what was strictly demarcated as his territory, added to the Spaniard’s credentials and fan following. If the win at Wimbledon had continued to evade the world No.1, his detractors would have labeled him the clay-court wonder boy and nothing beyond. They would have got a reason to never consider him in the league of the extraordinary gentlemen, headed by Federer himself. Well, defeat or not Rafa has already etched his name in that list and has as usual taken the loss in his stride refusing to term it as a tragedy (his fans would most definitely disagree). “I had to lose one day. I must accept my defeats with the same level of calm that I accept my victories,” he said to the press. So, despite the invincibility gone, the champion has refused to mourn.

Picture courtesy: buckmire.blogspot.com