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PARIS: Rafael Nadal hailed his 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Roger
Federeron Sunday as almost “perfect” as he joined Bjorn Borg as
the only man to win four successive French Opens.
The win was the 22-year-old Spaniard’s 11th in
17 career meetings with the world number one, his ninth in 10
claycourt clashes and his 28th win at Roland Garros in 28 matches.
“I didn’t expect the match to happen like
this. I played almost perfect tennis,” said Nadal.
“He had more mistakes than usual. I played
inside the court more than usual and I was able to control the
point. I played more aggressively than before, I had more slice, I
could change direction and I’m playing flatter shots with my
backhand.”
The 1hr 48min final was the shortest men’s
title match since Borg’s win over Vitas Gerulaitis in 1980 and the
most comprehensive in terms of games conceded since Guillermo Vilas
only gave up three in 1977 against Brian Gottfried.
“It was easy to concentrate when things were
going so well,” added Nadal.
“But when I was 6-1 ahead I knew the match
would have to be closer. He broke me to go 3-3 in the second set but
I was very focused and that was the game of the match.”
From that point, Nadal ran away with the next
nine games, but he refused to compare himself with Borg who won six
Roland Garros titles in his career.
“It’s nice to be compared to Borg. At the
end of my career you can ask me about him. But he was a better
player than me. I’m just happy with the victory today.”
Federer was fulsome in his praise of Nadal.
“Rafa was supreme today. I tried all I could
but he was better,” said Federer who is still missing a French
Open from his collection of 12 Grand Slams.
“He was lethal in defense, hardly made any
mistakes in attack and when he is under pressure he handles it so
well. To perform like this shows what a great champion he is.”
Federer was constantly under the cosh on Sunday,
losing the battle from both the baseline as well as the net,
finishing with 35 unforced errors to Nadal’s seven.
The Spaniard also topped the winner’s tally
hitting 46 to Federer’s 31 leaving the Swiss to admit that his
rival, who didn’t drop a set in the entire tournament, is getting
better all the time.
“He’s been dominating everybody. He’s
improved and plays quite differently to the first time we played
here in the semifinals in 2005. He is better in offense and defense.
He can play what he likes from the baseline,” he said.
Despite the defeat, which was Federer’s
heaviest against Nadal, he still believes he can be a Roland Garros
champion, but the clock is ticking.
Here in 2009, Federer will be two months away
from his 28th birthday.
“I can still win here. It’s possible to beat
Rafa but the way he played today made it very difficult. The problem
with most players is that they don’t think they can beat him.”
-- AFP
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