By Tennis Week
May 31, 2024
He has been a picture of perseverance throughout this French fortnight and now Rafael Nadal was about to hit the photo pit.
Careening from one corner of the court to the other while pursuing the ball with all the desperate drive of a lifeguard determined to save a drowning swimmer, Nadal covered the entire expanse of the court, struck his running forehand reply from off the doubles alley, curled a shot around the net post and into the corner of the court where it settled next to the sideline for a winner so stunning even Nadal raised his arms to celebrate the shot. Tennis' human photo-op came to a skidding stop so close to the photographer's pit he could see his own reflection in the long lenses of the cameras clicking away to capture the most sensational shot of the tournament.
It was one point in Nadal's 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 victory over 20th-seeded compatriot David Ferrer in today's all-Spanish Roland Garros quarterfinal, but it illustrated all the elements that make the 18-year-old Spanish sensation one of tennis' most explosive players.
On Friday, Nadal will celebrate his 19th birthday by taking on tennis' top player � Roger Federer. In a marquee match that has all the atmosphere of a final, Federer and Nadal will meet in the Roland Garros semifinals with the winner favored to capture his first Roland Garros title. The highly-anticipated semifinal showdown between two of the top shot makers in the sport should create an electrifying atmosphere in the City of Light.
"(To) play the semifinal against the No. 1 is unbelievable for me," said Nadal, who will carry a 22-match winning streak into the semifinals. "I think today's match has really given me confidence to play against Federer, and it really has given me a lot of confidence. I know he's playing very well. I know it's going to be a complicated match."
Continuing his quest to join Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Andre Agassi as the sixth man to claim all four Grand Slam championships, Federer defeated Romania's Victor Hanescu, 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-3 to reach the Roland Garros final four for the first time in his career.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has not surrendered a set in his five tournament victories and has surprised himself with his rapid run through the draw.
"I have the feeling everything is going fast, a bit too fast, and I'm not used to that in a way," Federer said. "I have now two days ahead of me to ponder over things and see what can happen for the future, and I hope to be in great shape for that match against Nadal."
Federer's ascendant artistry has seen him capture six championships on the year and establish a pupil-popping 46-2 record with his lone losses coming to Marat Safin in the Australian Open semifinals and Richard Gasquet in the Monte Carlo quarters. Federer, who held match points in both losses, has won 62 of his last 64 matches since losing to Tomas Berdych in the Athens Olympic Games last summer.The world No. 1 and his heir apparent have split their two prior matches, both contested on the hard courts of Key Biscayne. If their next meeting is anything like their last one, it will be a memorable match.
Unleashing upper-cut topspin forehands with the strength of a power lifter performing one-armed curls, a pumped up Nadal was two points from racking up the Nasdaq-100 Open championship in straight sets and hoisting his first Masters Series title trophy.
Summoning the strength of spirit and burning will to win he�d shown in claiming 47 of his prior 48 matches, Federer faced the weight of worry that can come from confronting impending defeat on blistered feet and lifted his level of play. Rallying from a 3-5 deficit in the third-set tiebreak, Federer fought back to capture his second consecutive Masters Series title with a 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1 triumph in the Nasdaq-100 Open final the featured some spectacular shot making and shifts of emotion at Key Biscayne�s Crandon Park.
Nadal is hoping to create a different conclusion on Friday.
"I hope it's not going to be like in Miami because, you know, it was a five-set match, I lost," Nadal said. "Here, it's a different surface. We're on clay. It's going to be different, and I am going to try to play well - like I've been playing so far, and play at my best level like I've been playing Barcelona, Monte-Carlo, all the clay tournaments, the final in Rome. Today I've been playing at a good level. If I play like that, I hope I do have the possibility of winning. If I don't play at my best level, well, it's going to get complicated."
Drilling topspin drives from the baseline, Nadal imparted such heavy, shoulder-high spin, Federer sometimes looked like he was trying to shrug a shot put off his shoulders in response. The left-handed Nadal's crosscourt forehand into Federer's one-handed backhand was been an effective shot for the Spaniard in their two prior matches and Federer's ability to counter that shot will be a key component to the outcome on Friday.
"It bounces very high. He doesn't play it very long, but short so it bounces high," Federer said of the Nadal forehand. "Until you actually realize that you can actually attack the ball, it's too late and it gets up high on you. From then on, it's actually a very risky shot to go for something."
Nadal's most vulnerable shot is his second serve. Federer may opt to take Nadal's second serve on the rise and attack behind his return. The problem with that strategy is Nadal is exceptionally adept at hitting running passing shots and when Federer gave him a target in Miami, Nadal responded with several stirring passing shots.
Federer will confer with coaching consultant Tony Roche over the next two days to devise his strategy. Look for Federer to try to exploit the short court with drop volleys and slices and play with more aggression in his return game as he attempts to beat the muscular teenager from Mallorca who has strong-armed the opposition in posting a 36-2 clay-court record with five tournament titles this season.
"I think the match here is going to be very different from Miami, maybe a bit more sliding, more drop shots," Federer said. "I don't know. I don't know. We'll see."
The Swiss stylist registered an 18-0 record against top 10 opponents last year. Five months into the 2005 season, Federer has has found a worthy rival in Nadal � now he must find a way to beat him.
**Please do not reproduce without giving credit to the original source and VamosRafael.com.**
Return to VamosRafael.com.
Return to VamosRafael.com Articles
.
