The victory of the Swiss Roger Federer in the end of the Masters Series of Hamburg on Rafael Nadal has given an unexpected turn to the expectations for the Roland Garros who begins tomorrow in Paris, where the Spanish, authentic tennis player dominating of the Earth during two years, except for ?the German incident?, will try to add his third consecutive triumph.
Of to have gained Nadal the match hamburgués the script anticipated on earth would be more near being fulfilled, but that triumph of the Helvetian has supposed more sense of expectancy than ever for the Grand Slam of earth, that, now yes, has become a fight without quarter by a title that both tennis players wish for different reasons.
For both, the Opened one of France supposes a challenge. to gain Nadal one would become the first player who obtains triplete consecutive from Bjorn Borg, although the Swedish before gained four years followed (1978-81) and other two (1974-75), being like the land player more hard of history.
Federer looks for its Grand Slam
Federer needs east title because it knows that if wants to prevail over the rest of the players who have happened to history it is totally necessary him to gain the French crown, at least once, being saved of the dishonor that supposed not to make it for the Americans Pete Sampras and John McEnroe or the German Boris Becker, among others.
The Swiss, in addition, would chain the four great ones followed (Wimbledon and Abierto of the United States in 2006 and Opened of Australia 2007), with which he would close his Grand particular Slam and he would leave the possibility open of fulfilling in this season with the most important commitment of this sport, to gain the four great he himself natural year, something that two players have only obtained: the Australian Rod Laver, twice (1962 and 1969), and the American Donald Budge (1938).
Nadal, released
But lack to know the answer of the Spanish when it steps on the sand of Paris again. ?It has been one more a defeat more mental than physical?, it has said to his uncle and trainer recently Toni Nadal. ?Rafa was exhausted to concentrate several weeks and with the pressure to gain every time?, it added. Something logical if one assumes that it has defended his titles of Barcelona successfully, Montecar it and Rome, besides to gain in Indian Wells in the season of American runway.
Released now of that extreme lost tension and having against somebody by which all show an almost celestial respect, it is necessary to know if Nadal has been sprightly, and if in those few days of rest that it has had it has recovered the freshness in his game and the confidence to be again indestructible. The logical thing is that the potential that hoards, on the verge of turning 21 years, explodes again, with its habitual rage.
The others
This singular duel almost has grown dark to the rest of the possible favorites, like the Serb Novak Djokovic, winner in Adelaida, Miami and Estoril, or the Argentinean Guillermo Canes, triunfador in Costa do Saupie and the only one that has been able to gain to Federer this season twice.
Finalist in east Barcelona year, where she only yielded before Rafa Nadal, ?Willy? reached the quarters of Paris in 2002 and 2005 and, if his physicist allows it, can be a frightful earth rival, like the Chilean Fernando González, who after being finalist in the Opened one of Australia demonstrated to his plans of earth dweller when reaching the end of Rome. Feminine picture
Roland Garros will live east year his first edition on the equality in prizes between men and women, something that would have to be an incentive for the players who as much have fought by this recognition.
Strongest to obtain the title that will defend consecutive the Belgian Justine Henin for the second time they seem to be the Serbs Ana Ivanovic, winner in Berlin, and Jelena Jankovic, in Rome, both twigs in these end of the Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Henin has taken control of the triumphs of Dubai, Doha and Warsaw, and recently he has been semifinal in Berlin. With 22 victories this season and only three defeats, the one of Lieja aspires to become the first player in gaining three consecutive times Roland Garros, from the Yugoslav Monica Seles (1990-92).
Paris also will live the return on the Serena American Williams, winner in 2002, absent one in the two last editions, and that returned to savor this last January of the honeys to gain a Grand Slam in the Opened one of Australia. The minor of the Williams has also won in Miami and has been cuartofinalista in Rome. Perhaps its earth preparation has not been as she herself hoped, but when prevailing in Melbourne in January she made clear that its east objective year was Roland Garros.