Before this French Open semi-final match-up it had been all about the dizzying n...
PARIS - Before this French Open semi-final match-up it had been all about the dizzying numbers and statistics, but once great foes Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal stepped on to the Roland Garros center court, all that mattered was both men’s preternatural ability to strike a small yellow ball.
The Spaniard had never lost to Federer in their five previous French Open meetings, but hadn’t beaten the Swiss in their last five matches overall, a run stretching back five years.But for all the anticipation, in the event it was Federer’s winning streak that gave way — with no little brutality. It hardly made for exceptional tennis, but both men pulled off breathtaking shots worthy of their status as two of the sport’s greats.
“Holding serve against the wind with Rafa’s quality on the return is just really hard, you know? He barely misses any. And then when he’s in the rally, he plays with great spin on the forehand, great sort of control on the backhand side.
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