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Queen Sofia of Spain poses for a photograph with Spain's Rafael Nadal after he won in the men's final match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 6, 2010, in Paris.


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A few of you may remember me commenting that when Roger Federer got back his Wimbledon crown last year and the No. 1 ranking, it was as though nothing had ever changed.

Just shy of a year later, the tour is almost back to where it was before Rafael Nadal had to sit out with injury: the Spaniard sits atop the rankings and holds the Roland Garros trophy.

Robin Söderling, unwittingly I suppose, played the third side of this tennis triangle. Buoyed by a crowd that wanted so desperately to see Federer win their title and complete the career Slam, he hit a struggling Nadal off the court last year, ultimately made it to the final, and gave the fans what they wanted. This year, he hit an in-form Federer off the court in the quarterfinals, denying him the chance to remain No.1 and break Pete Sampras' record, and then fell to an in-form Nadal in the final. If someone had told him three years ago he would play such an important role in the fate of the top two players in the world, he'd probably have shrugged it off as stupidity.

You can make this stuff up.

Rafa is back. I hadn't seem him weep like that in his chair after a tennis match since he lost that grueling Wimbledon final in 2007 because his knees failed him. He won every big title there was to win on clay this season, a first even for the Ruler of the Red Stuff. Sure, his camp is now saying the focus is on the US Open, but no one will convince me Nadal won't move heaven and earth to win back a title he was unable to defend last year on the lawns of London.

Roland Garros 2010 Men's Final Open Thread

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Argentina's Agustin Velotti, left, holds his first place trophy next to runner up USA's Andrea Collarini after a boy's finals match for the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 6, 2010.

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From peytonallen:

So we get the “other” final everybody wanted. Personally, this one is more fascinating to me than another Fed/Nadal matchup. Roger wasn’t winning that one, no matter how many people gathered hands and prayed. We’ve seen that match too many times. Why would it change now when Fed is a year older? Madrid proved it wouldn’t. But Sunday we find out if Soderling is Nadal’s Panatta.

A lot on the line for both guys. I don’t see Soderilng becoming a future #1 player or really even a Slam champion at any point, but there have been late career surges before. Rafter isn’t an all-time talent but for a couple of years there he was Pete’s main rival and the best player in the world. I can see why the Swedes would push the hype, though I think Robin’s career path has already been set. But as Peter Korda proved anyone can rise up and win a slam.

If he wins it certainly would be the most interesting/explosive 12 month run at the French. Beating the new Borg, then ending Fed’s streak and taking home the title. Who would’ve thought Soderling at any point in his career would be regarded as the best clay court player?

If Nadal loses it’s the end of the Federer/Nadal stranglehold on tennis. They may both win another slam, but a loss at the French, in his element, would signal a slight end for Rafa. It’d be a sign he’ll always struggle against the ‘power merchants’ for the rest of his career.
If he wins, he’s #1 and on his way to 10-11 slams and proves his break last year was just that, a pit stop while on the road to more glory. He’d have the rest of his career to chase Borg’s French mark and he’d be the overwhelming favorite to defend his Wimbledon crown.

Soderling may be a little less nervous than last year, but I still think he’s got an uphill battle to win this title. He was hitting winners from everywhere last year and like his win over Federer serving out of a tree. He’ll play well Sunday but he has to match his performance from last year, if not exceed it to win. I’m not sure he can do that. If he has an average service day, he’s out in straights.

Rafa has to save his BP’s against and show his new aggressive game was worth it. If he repeats last year’s performance and gives Robin a steady diet of short balls he’ll be in for a long day.

A few weeks before their match last year Nadal beat Soderling 6-1, 6-0. It’s hard for me to believe suddenly he’s the only man Nadal can’t beat in Paris.

Nadal in 4.

Power Trumps Variety

Reuters

When the power merchant doesn't miss on the big moments, doesn't become overwhelmed by whatever situation he faces, he wins.

On any surface. Even in thick-as-pea-soup conditions.

The proof is in the result.

Roger Federer played well, but Robin Söderling did to this year's defending champion exactly what he did to last year's:

He hit him off the court with such relentless power and precision, Raja had no idea what hit him.

The only difference? The crowd wasn't at all rooting for the underdog to dethrone the champion.

Make of that what you will.

I, for one, will enjoy the top-half semifinal thoroughly, what with Tomas Berdych following up his dismantling of Andy Murray with a crushing victory over Mikhail Youzhny.

May the hardest hitter win.

Roland Garros 2010 Day 10 Order Of Play

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Spain's Nicolas Almagro eyes the ball after hitting a forehand to Spain's Fernando Verdasco during their men's fourth round match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on May 31, 2010, in Paris.

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We have arrived at the final eight. MadProfessah has posted his predictions and we'll talk about them here as the action unfolds.

Conventional wisdom states that Elena Dementieva is the best active player on the WTA never to have won a slam. I reject that. That honor goes to Miss Nadia Petrova. No, she's never been to a Slam final, never won an Olympic Gold, but she has the most talent and most complete game of the non-Slam winners in the women's field. And she can serve. We know what her deadliest weakness is and I, for one, am hoping she can smother it this week and make her first Slam final.

I'm also rooting for Francesca Schiavone, one of the most imaginative players on the tour who fights to the bigger end. She'll have her work cut out for her against the backboard that his Caroline Wozniacki, but if the veteran can frustrate the youngster enough, she'll advance to her first Slam semifinal in the latter days of her career. What a story that would be.

As for the men, it probably goes without saying but I'll say it anyway: I wanna see Robin Söderling play Tomas Berdych in the semifinals. Let it be, let it be.

Schedule for Day 10: Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Court Philippe Chatrier 14:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[17] v. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[3]
2. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Roger Federer (SUI)[1] v. Robin Soderling (SWE)[5]
3. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Marc Lopez (ESP)/Pere Riba (ESP) v. Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Dick Norman (BEL)[4]

Court Suzanne Lenglen 14:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
Elena Dementieva (RUS)[5] v. Nadia Petrova (RUS)[19]
2. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Tomas Berdych (CZE)[15] v. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)[11]
3. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[6] v. Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[2]

Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)/Leander Paes (IND)[3] v. Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)[8]
2. Women's Doubles - Fourth Round
Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Shahar Peer (ISR) v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)[2]
3. Mixed Doubles - Third Round
Vania King (USA)/Christopher Kas (GER) v. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)
4. Women's Doubles - Fourth Round
Kveta Peschke (CZE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[12] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)/Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)

Court 2 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Julian Knowle (AUT)/Andy Ram (ISR)[10]
2. Girls' Singles - Second Round
Nastja Kolar (SLO)[4] v. Charlene Seateun (FRA)
3. Mixed Doubles - Third Round
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)/Julian Knowle (AUT) v. Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2]