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FEDERER DITCHES HIS FEET OF CLAY
AT LAST: Roger Federer celebrates after beating his clay-court nemesis Rafael Nadal
By Nigel Clarke
ROGER FEDERER set himself up to win the Grand Slam title he most covets with a stunning victory over his clay-court nemesis Rafael Nadal.
The world No1 came from a set down to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 and take the Hamburg Masters title, ending the Spaniard’s record unbeaten run on the surface of 81 matches.
And now the 25-year-old Swiss can believe victory is possible in the French Open, which begins in Paris next Sunday. It remains the Slam he has never won, having lost to Nadal in the last two finals.
Federer knew that if he was to achieve his lifetime ambition he would have at some point to overcome his fierce rival, and in Hamburg he proved that it can be done.
“It’s a breakthrough,” said Federer. “It will be interesting to see how we both react to it in the French Open.”
Federer’s first title in five tournaments ended his worst drought since he became world No1 in 2004.
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To beat Rafael makes it special.
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“For me it’s just nice to be playing well again,” he said. “It’s not that I was playing so badly but it’s my first
clay-court title in a couple of years so that’s great.
“I had a tough draw but I beat really top-class players. I’m feeling very good going into the French Open.”
Nadal has won successive titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, and looked on his way to a fourth as he took the first set and held two break points on Federer’s serve at 1-1 in the second.
But suddenly Federer dominated the match, winning the long rallies, rediscovering the venom in his first serve and that mighty forehand. Nadal had never before lost a clay-court final, but there were times when it appeared his recent heavy schedule had taken a toll on even his immense strength.
He had said before they had gone on court: “There is no pressure on me, I can’t say the same for Roger.” Five times these two warriors had met on clay, and five times Nadal had won.
Federer recently parted company with his coach, Australian legend Tony Roche, having decided it was time to work more things out for himself. “I feel my problems have been solved,” he said on Saturday. He was right.
But it didn’t look that way when he was forced to save two break points in the opening game of the match, a seven-minute marathon. Nadal broke him to lead 2-1, and again as he slipped 4-1 behind and lost the set.
There seemed no way back, but a series of high-quality rallies at the start of the second set revived Federer.
He broke Nadal to lead 3-1, held his serve to stay 4-2 ahead, and won the set at the third opportunity. Once again at the start of the third Federer found himself break point down, but he saved it with a wide serve and biting volley – and then took full control. He broke for 2-0, again for 4-0, and all the swagger had gone from Nadal.
For the first time in a long time he looked disconsolate on court, his shoulders slumped.
He had every reason to be concerned – Federer was all over him, not only dictating the shots but hitting the winners, breaking up Nadal’s game.
What is more important is that Federer knows now he can beat Nadal, and go on to claim his rightful place as the greatest the game has seen. “I was mentally just a little off,” said Nadal. “You can tell I was not quite right because otherwise taking a set off me 6-0 on clay is not that easy.
“But I’m very happy to have reached the final. I think I’m playing better tennis than ever.
“However, if I had to lose to someone, then it is better it is to the best player in the world.”
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