Rafa roughs up forlorn Federer

HUMILIATION is a word frequently associated with Roger Federer, but usually it is him doing the humiliating.

IN FULL FLOW Nadal turns on the power IN FULL FLOW: Nadal turns on the power

Federer, winner of 12 Grand Slam titles, has made a habit of crushing the mind, game and spirit of those in front of him as he has chased his place in the history books over the past five years. But never had he been humiliated himself – until now.[>

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Rafael Nadal gave the normally majestic Swiss the hiding of his life yesterday, allowing him a meagre four games as he secured a fourth French Open title 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.[>

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It took just 108 minutes – the shortest final since 1980 – and was the most one-sided final since Guillermo Vilas beat Brian Gottfried in 1977.[>

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Worse still, Federer had not lost a set to love in a major tournament since making his Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros in 1999 and losing to Pat Rafter in the first round.[>

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So pathetic was Federer’s tally of games that he apologised to the crowd for not being able to put up more of a fight. He had come into the final talking of how he had improved on  clay and of how he had identified areas of weakness in Spaniard Nadal’s game.[>

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But Nadal in the French Open final is a different proposition to the man Federer sees anywhere else on the circuit. Here, he is an ogre. And, decked out in Shrek green, he tore Federer’s game to shreds.[>

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“He is so strong,” said Federer. “He has dominated this tournament as never before. I tried and I hoped but it wasn’t enough. Today, Rafa was supreme.”[>

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Nadal has never been beaten at Roland Garros and with this fourth title, he has put himself on a par with Bjorn Borg.[>

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Swede Borg is the only other man to have won four successive trophies since the tournament opened its doors to foreign players in 1925.[>

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He went on to win here six times which would mean that Nadal would have to keep winning here until 2011 to establish himself as the undisputed king of Roland Garros.[>

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But given that he has only lost twice in his past 117 matches on clay, a record going back to the spring of 2005, no clay-court record seems safe.[>

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“He has dominated everybody these last two weeks,” said Federer. “I definitely think he has improved. He plays quite differently to our first match here four years ago. He’s better in defence, better in offence. He was good today. That’s all I can say. No more I need to add.”[>

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Federer had clearly devised a game plan, one that depended on him taking the initiative and attacking the net. Alas, what had sounded logical and probable on the practice courts was all but impossible in this final.[>

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Put under pressure from the first ball, no shot found its mark and Federer’s tactics just fell apart.[>

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Like Eric Morecambe playing with Andre Previn’s orchestra, he was playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order. Only briefly did he remember the tune, but by then it was too late.[>

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Already a set and a break down, Federer managed to get one break of serve back and thought that he had a hint of a chance.[>

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All that it allowed him was to keep pace with Nadal for the next four games before the champion flexed his muscles again and set off on a run of eight games to trample Federer’s hopes into the red dust.[>

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From here, Federer is supposed to be heading to the Halle event and the start of his Wimbledon preparations. After knocking his head against the brick wall of Nadal on clay for the past two months, he is obviously clinging to the thought that playing on grass will restore his edge over the rest.[>

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After starting the year suffering from glandular fever and then having to put up with defeat on the clay courts, he is anxious to forget all about these past few months.[>

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“I haven’t lost on grass for, what is it, five years now, six years?” said Federer. “I still definitely feel very strong about my chances and being the big favourite going into grass.[>

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“It’s so far away, grass and clay, that losing here in four or five sets or even with no chance like today, I don’t think it has a big effect on me mentally. I’m looking forward to the grass and the second half of the season, hopefully, is going to be better than the first.”[>

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Unfortunately for Federer, that man Nadal will be on the first train to London this morning to begin his Wimbledon preparations.[>

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And, after reaching two Wimbledon finals already, he fancies his chances.[>

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After all, losing to Nadal on grass would be the greatest humiliation of all.[>

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