- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Welcome to The Roar’s live coverage of the all Spanish 2013 French Open Men’s singles final between 7-time champion Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer who is making his major final debut. Live coverage from 11.30pm AEST.
Today’s match represents the fourth all Spanish major final in the open era, and all have occurred at Roland Garros.
Ferrer broke Gallic hearts when he defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in their semi. A very consistent if not spectacular performer, Ferrer has been on the outside looking in on the Big Four for a few years now and finally gets his chance to have a crack at a big one.
Unfortunately he will run into a man that is so comfortable on the Roland Garros dirt that his ugg boots are probably lined with the Parisian clay.
Nadal’s record currently stands at 59-1 in matches at the French. No man has won more, and no champion has lost so few.
But even this imposing record belies Nadal’s 2013 achievements.
After coming back from potentially career threatening knee injuries, the French Open decider will represent Nadal’s ninth straight tournament final. He has lost just two matches this entire year.
Any doubts over whether Nadal could come back to his best have well and truly been put to bed.
May well we ask why Ferrer is even turning up for the public flogging many are predicting. Indeed it would seem to be borderline insanity to predict anything but a Nadal victory.
But Ferrer is not without hope.
For one he is yet to drop a set in this tournament and has cruised through to the final with relative ease (though apart from Tsonga, it must be said his draw has been a little soft).
In contrast Nadal has lost four sets on the way the final, one each in the first two rounds and two more in a high quality, intensely fought and emotionally draining semi-final epic against Novak Djokovic.
Nadal being fatigued by a hard fought semi may be the chink Ferrer needs to make early inroads against the greatest clay court player in history.
Ferrer knows only too well that in this era of the big four getting an opportunity in a major final is as rare as a Nadal loss on clay and he will leave nothing out on the court, after all it’s a two horse race between mere mortals.
Well, ok, one mere mortal and a bona fide tennis god.
Prediction: Nadal in 4
Please join us for this intriguing all Iberian contest, and please join in the commentary as the match unfolds.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.