By Charles Bricker
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
June 1, 2024
If one thing was ordained by the French Open gods before the first ball was struck here 10 days ago at this most unpredictable of Grand Slams, it was that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the two monumental figures in men's tennis, would meet in the semifinal.
And so it came to pass Tuesday as each man won in straight sets against opponents whose names will not be remembered by half the people who witnessed their routs when, in two days, Federer and Nadal confront each other for a trip to the final.
For the record, Federer defeated the tall, becalmed Romanian Victor Hanescu by 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-3 while Nadal, with one minor road bump, blasted past Spanish countryman David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.
"I'm really looking forward to this one." Those were almost Federer's first words when he stepped into the post-match interview room to begin a long and frank discussion of this impending duel.
Nadal was equally enthusiastic. "Play the semifinal against the No. 1 is unbelievable, no?" he said, his face, as usual, expressive and lit up.
The only pity is that these two court geniuses will not be playing on Sunday with the trophy at stake. For many, of course, this will be the championship match.
In one corner, Federer, who needs only the French Open to complete his collection of crowns in all four majors at age 23; the man who has been likened to some sort of amalgamation of Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver and John McEnroe.
In the other corner, and in possession of the most murderous topspin forehand in tennis, Nadal, who will turn 19 the day this semifinal is played.
"Today is my best day in the two weeks," Nadal said without hesitation. Serving at 4-5 in the opening set, he had to fend off three set points, saving one with a running forehand drive the line that had thousands on the Suzanne Lenglen court standing and saluting with a long ovation.
Nadal went on to win that game and seven of the next eight as Ferrer, his back aching from a four-hour odyssey with 2004 champion Gaston Gaudio on Sunday, went into a rapid retreat. He was able to win only eight points in the 24-minute final set.
This will be the third match between Federer and Nadal with each having won once at the Nasdaq-100 on Key Biscayne. On April 3, Federer beat Nadal in a five-set final after being two sets down.
But that, as Nadal pointed out, was on a hardcourt. "It's going to be different and I am going to try to play well, like I've been playing so far, at my best level."
It's not easy to predict a winner. Nadal has the ATP's best record on clay, a lethal forehand and, apparently, an unending storehouse of energy.
Federer, however, has the better serve and is much more efficient around the net, and it won't be surprising to see him inside the service line 20 or 30 times, slapping down Nadal's heavy topspin before it can hit the dirt.
In fact, anything is better than getting into a long baseline-to-baseline rally with him. His backhand drives opponents deep and his forehand jumps off the red clay with so much force and height that it's very difficult to control.
"Throughout the five sets [at Key Biscayne], you definitely get a feeling for what kind of player he is," said Federer. "I think I've learned very much ... you know, how to play him.
"In the beginning of that match, I didn't play well at all and he took advantage of that totally. I had to fight my way back. I came through in the end and I felt I was the fitter player.
"But now we're on clay and rallies can be tougher. But I thought Key Biscayne was a tough match, too."
Nadal was born to clay in Mallorca while Federer has had to learn the nuances of this surface. His past French Opens have been mediocre, but he's now 14-1 on clay this season (46-2 overall) and has won his last 28 clay court sets.
Nadal, meanwhile, is 36-2 on clay and 46-6 overall.
Today, the semifinal in the bottom half will be settled with Guillermo Canas playing his Argentine compatriot Mariano Puerta in one match and Spain's Tommy Robredo playing Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the other.
One of these men is going to be ecstatic to reach the final and, when he gets there, will know his chances for the title are virtually non-existent.
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