The French Open Final started today but it didn't finish. Due to ongoing rain, it was postponed until tomorrow (7 AM Eastern). The storyline in the match is great. It is the fourth straight slam final that Djokovic and Nadal have played in. Djokovic (who has won the three previous slams) is trying to complete the career grand slam and hold all four titles at once. This would be the first time in 43 years, since Laver, that this happened. Nadal is currently tied with Borg for the most French Open titles. With a win tomorrow, he will take over sole possession of first in that regard.
And while the tennis is generally entertaining when they meet, I'm left wanting more. Most would consider these guys good sports but I still am looking for a higher standard. I am wanting another Federer, or better yet, more of Federer now.
Federer makes the matches real and fun. His passion seems more for tennis than for titles. He represents his family (wife and kids) and not just himself. He conducts himself with class not only on the court, but off it as well. Plus, most forget he is past his prime and is still competing for titles every week. He is the best player of all time and I hope people don't overlook his accomplishments even though others are doing great things too.
My point can be made watching the match today. During the first two sets, Novak was behaving like a child. It was a big match and he simple couldn't find it. He not only screamed at himself and broke his racquets, but he took it out on Roland Garros by breaking his seat and bench. Disrespectful! The whole world is watching and young players are looking to you to show them how to act.
Then in the third and fourth sets when Rafa started to lose it, he started blaming things on his performance. Even though Novak was playing in the same conditions, Rafa started complaining about the rain, the court, and the balls. He yelled at the officials, and even hit the ball at them and told them to call the match. What a baby! Act like Roger and show the world how this is a gentleman's sport.
Off the court its the same stuff. They both do some good things but it is often overshadowed. Novak is known as a goof off. He screws around, pokes fun at others, didn't get serious about training until last year, and doesn't want to grow up.
Nadal plays video games all day with his friends but at least he trains and represents tennis with the players committee. But that's where his downfall is. All he does is complain. He wines about the schedule, the surface, the balls, umpiring, and basically everything else. YOUR A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, DEAL WITH IT!!! If he doesn't like the schedule, then sit out events. If everybody is on the same footing, who cares. And when Roger doesn't get involved with you to cry about stuff, don't yell at him for disagreeing and taking the high road. That's class Nadal, and you don't have it. You can only sometimes fake it.
In terms of their style of play I prefer Roger as well. Novak and Rafa are prime examples of technology playing tennis. They both just sit back and hammer topspin shots. I want variety, thinking, flair, and some old-school volleying. Roger does that and it is so much more fun to watch overall. I like groundstrokes but I want to see different points. Djokovic and Nadal is getting boring, particularly on clay. Where are the players like Fed?
The funny thing is that I used to hate Roger. I used to root against him in every match, regardless of who he played. But there came a point in time when I couldn't stop watching. He was entertaining! I grew to completely respect him; I loved his class, his style of play, his relationship with his wife and now kids, his relationship with the media, and the fact that he seems like the better man in his rivalries with competitors. I just wish he could be in his prime now, and wipe the floor with these jokers (no pun intended).
So if you are looking for someone to root for, look no further than Roger. Root for him to win more slams, for him to get back to number one, and for others to emulate him on and off the court. I will miss Fed when he retires but will love watching him until he does. And when he is gone, I hope there are others like him.
Andrew
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