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Nadal Sweeps Aside Ferrer in Straight Sets to Claim Historic 8th French Open Related Links Nadal over Djokoic in 2012 French Open Federer vesrus Nadal -Who Will History Judge Was Best? Novak Djokovic Wins His 3rd Grand Slam of 2011! Federer's Tears at the Australian-A Marketing Disaster for Nike? How Did Bubba Watson Get Lean? Sports Tiger Woods Workout Get Lean Diet for Men The Add Muscle Diet 10 Superfoods for Men's Health Foods That Shrink Your Waist Six Pack Abs--The Exercises That Work June 10, 2013 By Tom Hopke, Featured Columnists and the Editors of MangoBoss As you walk the leafy grounds of Parc des Princes bordering Stade Roland Garros, you can almost hear the whispers of history. These grounds have seen many extraordinary champions --the legendary Swede Bjorn Borg--who made a habit of winning the French Open then crossing the channel two weeks later and winning Wimbledon also comes to mind. I recall watching Borg on televisions during those years before I could even dream of attending the French Open in person. How powerful and precise Borg was, how indifferent to the pressure. When Borg passed from the stage of tennis at age 26, I remember thinking, "there he goes, we'll never see another one like him". I was wrong. Watching Rafael Nadal, the 27 year-old Spaniard from the island of Mallorca, move with power and grace through this year's French Open confirms to even the most die-hard Borg fans that even the Great Swede has now been transcended. The new God of Clay is Rafael Nadal. We can now say, with assurance again, that once he is gone from our view, there truly never will be another like him. First, the data. Rafael Nadal crushed his countryman David Ferrer in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2 , 6-3 to claim the 2013 men's single championship. He already has won more French Open championships than any other man. The next closest champion is the Great Borg who has won the French Open title 6 times. With this 8th victory in France, Nadal becomes the only human in history to win one of the grand slam events (French Open, Wimbledom, US Open, Australian Open) 8 times. By the way, some will say that the semifinal against Djokovic was the true final of this year's French Open. They will point to the 4 hour 5 setter and declare it as an epic contest, one for the ages, etc. I disagree. I was there. Nadal won the first set, which Djokovic contested well, 6-4. Djokovic, buoyed by his victory over Nadal in the Monte Carlo warm-up and still believing he could back up his pre-match boast almost guaranteeing a victory over Nadal, bounced back to win the contested second set 6-3. But the third set, as Shakespeare might say, was the rub. Nadal took the match by the throat and squeezed. Whipping his signature bolero arched topspin forehand, he played with Djokovic, sending him left, then right, commanding him to go wherever he wanted, robbing him of the will to run. Watching it unfold was like seeing a man drown. Djokovic looked as helpless as a grown man can look, exposed, naked, helpless. Nadal beat him down, broke him ruthlessly to go up 2-0, then 3-0, then 4-0. It was a rout. It was painful to watch. In fact, at one point, he was leading 5-0 and Djokovic was a shattered man, on the verge of a humiliating bagel. Those who know tennis know what they saw that 3rd set. That 3rd set was the whole match. For once you've been robbed of your dignity the way that Djokovic was, there is no coming back. Yes, he made an effort in the 4th set and even eeked out the set, barely, 7-6, but the humiliation of that 3rd set will live in tennis history. That third set, in a nutshell, is the reason that Nadal is the unparalleled master of clay. Nadal is ever the shark. He lives in deep waters. Those who swim best in shallow waters ---Djokovic and others --- can sometimes mount a challenge in the early sets. But in a five setter, in the relentless, draining pressures of the deep waters of the 3rd, 4th and 5th sets, only Nadal will ultimately survive. He lures the would-be pretenders out farther, farther, into the deep waters, where he knows that eventually, they will drown themselves. Related: Nadal versus Federer-Who Is Really Better? Nadal Beats Djokovic to Win 2012 French Open Soy Foods Reduce Sperm Count / Snoring Affects Erections / Build Up Your Arms-Ideal Rotation Routine / Whey Versus Creatine-Which One Is Better for Strength /Celebrity Workouts /Foods That Strengthen Erectile Performance/ Fatty Foods Linked to Male Baldness/ Prostate Cancer Linked to Fatty Diet / Soy Foods Reduce Sperm Count |
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