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.
Johnno
Guest
Agree with the Vila's but on clay hard to split. 1-1 all in French open finals. In the period 1982-88 their achievements at the French Open are probably as equal as anything in tennis can be. 82 Wilander beats Lendl and goes on to win title 83 Noah beats both Lendl and Wilander 84 Lendl beats Wilander and goes on to win title 85 Wilander beats Lendl in final 86 Wilander loses early and Lendl wins title 87 Lendl beat Wilander in final 88 Lendl loses in QF and Wilander wins title I think Lendl probably went into the tournament as favourite more times. Here's my reading of the favourites based on stats. 82 Lendl 83 Wilander 84 McEnroe 85 Lendl 86 Lendl 87 Lendl/Wilander 88 Lendl After 88 Mat's slid right down his career basically slid then went into semi-reitrment, all at the age of 24 , 25.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Sorry but your list is incorrect. Lendl was vastly greater than Wilander, the arrival of Lendl made Borg go of into retire. Vilas was better than Wilander as well. Vilas had the misfortune of getting destroyed by Borg too many times. 1. Nadal( undisputed greatest ever) 2, Borg 3. Lendl 4. Vilas 5. Muster/Wilander Agassi wasn't a great clay court player. Kuerten and Burgera might've won multiple Roland Garros titles but they aren't as great as the 6 in my list.
Johnno
Guest
Rafa to good. Surely now he must be better than Bjorg on clay. Bjorn Borg was special, but Rafa is better on clay. My top list 1) Nadal 2)Bjorg 3)Wilander 4)Lendl 5)Kuerten 6)Burgera And guys like Andre Agassi, Ile Nastase, and Guillermo Vilas
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Well Federer is proclaimed the greatest, yet Nadal has owned Federer during their rivalry. If Nadal bags another Wimbledon, US Open or Australian Open(regardless of however many more Roland Garros' he bags), as he's not won outside Paris since USO 2010. He'll be the undisputed king. For me he's already the greatest, as he's destroyed Federer relentlessly.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Nadal was already the greatest when he won his 6th Roland Garros His haul of clay court titles was already greater than Bjorn Borg's.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Agreed Frankie 4 or more French titles are very much achievable. The greatest ever? As Rob says above, on clay yeas indeed. Greatest ever player? Boy, now that is a discussion that will go on for a long time. What i will say is the more i see of Rafa, the less likely i am to disagree with him as being greatest.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
yeah, he goes alright hey Rob?
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
So... Definitely the best claycourter in history, now? ;) Felicidades, Rafa!
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Rafael Nadal setting records that could take many lifetimes to break. First man to win 8 majors at the same major First man to win a major for 9 consecutive majors. Surely the greatest of them all. Rafa could easily bag another 4-5 French Opens.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
It was never really in doubt! Nadal started well, had a bit of a lull in the middle of the first set but from that point on it was all Rafa. He plays a brutal style of game that has worn on his body, and that could be the only thing that stops him from winning this title another 3 or 4 times here at the French. Nadal has only lost 2 matches this year, both in finals. A dominant record from a dominating player. Congratulations to Spanish Tennis' own Toro Bravo in Rafael Nadal, 2013 French Open Champion! Thank you for joinng the Roar for this live blog of the mens French Open final, bring on Wimbledon! Cheers and good night!
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
And there it is, The greatest clay court player in history wins an unprecendented 8th major victory on the same court! Fittingly a big Forehand ends Ferrers gallant yet futile efforts, NADAL WINS 6-3 6-2 6-3
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
2 MATCH POINTS NADAL!
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
And he is, but not so successfully. Ferrer pushes a backhand wide. 30-15
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
0-15 Ferrer attacks and gets just reward. There is no point in defending now. Ferrer will go for everything here
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
GAME rafa. He now will serve for the Championship. 5-3
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
BREAK point Rafa. Uncle tony looks nervous/excited!
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Deuce Ferrer's last stand here
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Full marks to Ferrer there. Nadal tried to take some pace of the ball with a slice backhand, and Ferrer pounces on the opportunity and rips a forehand winner.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
0-15 Nadal. The forehand has again been HUGE for Rafa tonight.
Kurt Sorensen
Roar Guru
Nadal holds and the relentless inevitability of this result is becoming ever more apparent. 4-3 Nadal