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by Philipina A. Marcelo
Five days out... so, what did I miss?? A lot, apparently!
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Roland Garros 2011 time ticked off while I was sleeping!
I got out of unconsciousness... and what greeted me was the big news from the City of Lights. Hmmm... they're wrapping things up at Roland Garros!
The top 4 men in the world are all in the semi-finals. Nice! But it's men's tennis - only the very, very best and the very, very "hot" talentwise get to the Top 10. So, no surprise there. Every single one of the extremely talented men are up for something. Rafa Nadal is out
Rafael Nadal. The "King of Clay" has so much
on the line in Roland Garros this year. Defending the
title, retaining the No. 1 in the World spot in the
rankings, and a possible sweet rendezvous with
history yet again with a sixth title.to try to capture his sixth French Open title to equal Bjorn Borg's record for the most number of French trophies in the Open era. The "Spanish Matador" is also fighting to retain his Number One in the World spot. The 24-year old Serb, Novak Djokovic, with his 41 winning streak in 2011 (43 overall) going into the semis, is trying to surpass John McEnroe's record of 42 winning streak in all ATP Tours. If he advanced to the final, even if he doesn't win it, he would also snatch the Number One spot in men's tennis world ranking from the 25-year old Rafa Nadal. That would end the seven-year Federer-Nadal duopoly of the Top 2 spots in men's tennis. Britain's Numero Uno, Andy Murray, who just turned 24 years a few days ago in May, is the only one who does not have a Grand Slam trophy on his shelves among these current crop of young brilliant tennis greats, and he is
Novak Djokovic. No. 1 in the World?
So close, and yet so far. trying to win his first. Roger Federer, the eldest among the quartet at 29 years, is out to assert himself as the rightful owner of the Number One spot, and to keep reminding everyone how tennis should be played - beautiful, lyrical, sublime - and, add another one to his amazing world record of 16 Grand Slam singles titles. All are worthy causes, all worth a shot - a big blisteringly hot shot - as the fine clay powder on Philippe Chatrier flies on semi-finals day!
But I can't believe I missed the live telecast of both semi-final matches! A "crisis management" consequence... it's worth it, of course! After all, there are always replays. :) For now, what I know is that: (1) my question about who or what would stop the red-hot Le Djokeur from winning the 2011 French Open title has been answered. It's El Maestro, of course! Am I surprised? Yes... and no! Yes, because The Djoke defeated RF thrice - in the semis in Melbourne and Indian Wells, and in the final in Dubai - en route to Roland Garros. While those are all hardcourts, they improved The Djoke's head-to-head with RF. No, because RF is in such a fine form
Andy Murray. One reason...
just one good reason to win a big one. in Roland Garros so far, he seemed to have decided that he wanted to be the legendary Roger Federer... again! His chest and his stomach are so flat these days, and his legs looked the way they did in 2005-2007, that he's hardly been sweating heavily so far. Yeah, I'm that big of a fan, I notice those sort of things. :) And so, apparently, the "boy wonder" Le Djokeur was shown who his daddy was in the semis - as in the old days. (2) Rafa Nadal put an end to Andy Murray's aspiration for a Roland Garros title this year. Am I surprised? Uhm, not really. Andy does not lack talent, that's for sure. What he needs is a more meaningful inspiration and a truly convincing reason to really, and actually, push his way through these three giants in front of him... he really does. And then winning the Grand Slam will come with it in a neat package. Just like Rafa Nadal, I also believe that Murray should win one soon!
And so, when all is said and done about the exciting status of men's tennis, it all boils down to this: a Federer-Nadal (or Nadal-Federer
Roger Federer. The sublime Genius's legendary
career is not just about his world record of 16 Grand
Slam singles titles, it's also about his beautiful
tennis... and he's using it again to rake up big wins.depending on your fan group affiliation) showdown in Roland Garros! Yowzer! Most naturally, I think it's awesome! I have put my "clay money" on the King of Clay after seeing him haul himself from the pit of losing the first round to John Isner - like a real king, King of Clay, that is. While there is no one else who is happier than me to see El Maestro revive his appetite for winning - and winning beautifully as well - I am not taking my money off the King in this one. He has the more compelling and the more meaningful reasons to win a sixth title... and he knows it, and he's got the heart to do it as well. But with El Maestro on the opposite side of the net, I am sure that the 2011 Roland Garros men's championship is going to be another one for the history books!
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Passion is the fashion where the arduous is glamorous!
I did catch the women's final between the defending champ, 30-year old Francesca Schiavone, and China's hope for a first Grand Slam, 29-year old Li Na. Now, this is an interesting match... a big Italian heart worn on an Italian sleeve vs. a cool, methodical and gregarious Chinese practicality - on a clay court.
Li Na. Cool and efficient, methodical and practical.
Her ardour to win catapulted her to the glamorous
circle of Grand Slam finalists.With teenagers and players in their early 20's in colorful and glamorous outfits parading the tennis courts these days, both Schiavone and Li are considered "old" by today's pre-dominant age groups. But both are physically fit, easily seen in their powerful shots and nimble movements. Both are hungry for winning as shown by their well-oiled shots arsenal that intimidate the most valiant of players on court. Both are all about serious tennis... with very little concern about Houte Couture. And yet, when they started hitting the ball on Philippe Chatrier's red clay, they enthralled!
Schiavone wowed the Melbourne audience in January, fighting an epic 47-game fourth-round battle with Russia's two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, and prevailing spectacularly after four hours and 44 minutes. She then exited via a three-set quarter-final loss to the
Francesca Schiavone. With her
Italian fashion statement - passion -
she sets out to win. methodical and gregarious shooting of Caroline Wozniacki. In Roland Garros this time, with Schiavone's first-round complete demolition of Melanie Oudin, it was obvious that the defending Champ is in Roland Garros with only one thing in mind - lift the trophy once again! Her aggression met a lot of resistance though in her part of the draw, including some flashes of wanting for a win from former No. 1 in the World, Jelena Jankovic, in a three-set fourth round battle, and a highly spirited challenge from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, where the Italian was pushed to another three sets. As always, Schiavone battled with her heart, relying on her instincts to go for a kill, willing her self to achieve the seemingly unachievable feat.
Li Na, the runner-up in this year's Australian Open, on the other hand, programmed her 2011 Roland Garros GPS
Maria Sharapova digging deep,
to no avail against Li Na.to the final... and to the final she arrived - safely! Of course, there was that semi-final Maria Sharapova bump that threatened to derail her cruise into the final (saw replays, of course). But Li Na played consistent, playing each point with a "mini objective" each time - to win it. That frustrated the fighter in the leggy Miss Couture of women's tennis who, in the end, double faulted her way to her own semi-final exit, giving Li Na a straight sets win of 6-4, 7-5.
In the final between Li and Schiavone, it was obvious to me that the Italian has got one foot in the grave. Li's game plan has what usually conquers Schiavone: methodical and gregarious earning of points, one by one, one step at a time. Li is not one to give in to outrageous show of emotions easily and gets agitated by spirited agression, as she's shown in her match with Sharapova. She is patient, steady and composed. When she loses a point, it was because she committed an error or she was not prepared to counter an attack, that's all. And then, she re-starts, both eye on the next point - again. Schiavone is a big-stage player. She
Li Na (left) of China win in straight sets, 6-4, 7(7)-6(0)
over Francesca Schiavone (right) of Italy in the 2011
French Open women's singles final. likes drama... she thrives in it, she plays better with it. But with Li's Programmed run, "drama" is a rarely used word.
And so, after arriving in the final, Li Na, re-adjusted her 2011 Roland Garros GPS to a win! She cruised to a win in the first set. There were a few Schiavone-induced potholes in the second set, but Li's shock absorber of reliable big forehand thrown in with her full body weight took them all without much damage. She wowed with big serves and big, accurate shots... winners, usually coming from moving Schiavone from side to side. While Schiavone pre-occupied herself with effecting the drama of chasing the ball from all over the place, hoping to involve the crowd, Li was always preparing for a kill - from one point to the next. In the end, it was Li who was being cheered by the crowd, and Schiavone had to ask the umpire to request the crowd to be quiet when points were being played in the tie break in the second set. :) Of course, when a request like that would come from the one who, on good days, would prefer to involve the crowd, we knew for sure
Li Na became the first Chinese to win the Coupe
Suzanne Lenglen after beating Italian Francesca
Schiavone in the 2011 French Open championship. that Li was only moments away from lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen!
And so, the 6th seed Li Na made history as the first Chinese and Asian to ever win a Grand Slam, and the first Chinese and Asian to ever win Roland Garros, with her straight sets championship victory over defending champion, Italian Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 7(7)-6(0). It was a wonderful moment for the lady with endearing sense of humor, who revealed in her post-match courtside interview in the Australian Open this year that she lost sleep the night before her semi-final match with No. 1 in the World Caroline Wozniacki... because of her husband snoring loudly! :) She won the match in three sets, and went on to a runner-up finish against No. 2 in the World Kim Clijsters. In Roland Garros this year, however, a runner-up finish simply wasn't good enough for her... which is more like it!
Congratulations, Li Na!! :)
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Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks!
