This year saw a repeat of last year’s gladiatorial fight for the Wimbledon and the French Open crowns in the men’s championship. Honestly, tennis is not what it used to be. The golden days of the 90’s are but a mere memory to most of us. But two names, Rafa and Federer, have tried to revive the passions amongst the fans. At the Roland Garros, it was the King of clay Rafa defending is turf against the supremely gifted Federer. Federer had just come of Hamburg after ending Rafael Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay. The tennis circuit was abuzz with one question, will he or won’t he. A win would mean a chance for a career Grand Slam, and in hindsight, as we look at the year’s other Grand Slam results, he would have achieved it.

But Rafa, had his reputation at stake here. And Rafa didn’t show even a hint of weakness as he proved once again that on clay his mastery is unrivaled. Roger looked lost on court at Roland Garros. I had a feeling that he was mentally not up to it. And at this level winning or losing is all decided in between the ears. Fast forward >> 1 month… & déjà Vu… Another Sunday, another final, same players, only this time it’s on the grass, and roles reversed. Now it was the King of grass, needing to prove his mastery and avenge his loss. Roger had had a comfortable path to the finals, not because the others were not good enough, but because he is so far ahead in his craft. Whereas Rafa in the latter part of the draw had to play a match a day till the finals. Yup, the rain gods had been very generous this summer at Wimbledon.

But this was not as one-sided a match as was expected. Infact Rafa played brilliantly, so brilliantly, that the otherwise calm Roger showed signs of frustrations, at one point suggesting that the Hawkeye was wrong. At that point, it was looking like Rafa was going to cause the biggest upset of this decade, hmm maybe baring the one Roger had caused, knocking out Sampras from the Wimbledon. It was tied at 2 sets all; with the fourth set suggesting that Rafa was more likely to win the Wimbledon than Roger winning the French Open. The match went into the decider. And then Roger came into his own. He showed the whole world why he is the best on grass. He wrapped the fifth, playing with nerves of steel and a touch of divinity, before Rafa could realized what hit him.

We all have heard it a zillion times, just how great Roger is. But Rafa is his Achilles’ heel. For all his greatness, there will always be a PS: about how he has not been able to conquer the clay at Roland Garros against Rafa. In some way, I feel, Roger needs to win the French defeating Rafa, and only then will he be hailed as the greatest. I think he too wouldn’t like it any other way! So I hope they make it 3 years in a row in 2008!!!