Mission still unaccomplished

Roger Federer here looks utterly dejected after seeing his quest for a first title at Roland Garros effectively crushed this year by Rafael Nadal in straight sets 6-1 6-3 6-0.

The world number one's error strewn game simply could not hold up under the relentless shotmaking of the Spaniard who with this latest victory has matched Bjorn Borg's record of four straight French Open titles.

Federer who has twelve grand slam titles to his already illustrious name will just have to put this dismal loss behind him and consider that the great run he had to the finals--for the third year in a row no less--was no mean feat. Then there is of course the coming grass court season to look forward to and where he can continue working towards a thirteenth grand slam title and a record breaking sixth straight crown at the prestigious All England Club in Wimbledon.

It is there after all where the grass is much greener for him, literally and figuratively, than it has ever been in Paris.
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Roger's road to the finals

World number one Roger Federer has made it to the finals at Roland Garros for the third straight year. Likewise, he will be battling his nemesis Rafael Nadal for the only grand slam title missing on his trophy case.

• Federer played a masterclass of a tennis match in his third round match against Mario Ancic. The Swiss was apparently in superb form as he dismissed the Croatian, 6-4 6-4 6-2.
• In the next round, Federer met a tougher challenger in France's Julien Benneteau who managed to put some pressure on the Swiss in the last two sets of their three-set battle 6-4 7-5 7-5.
• His next opponent was Fernando Gonzalez who previously defeated him on an indoor carpet court during last year's Masters Cup in Shanghai. Federer had a shaky start as Gonzalez clinched the first set on a double break. But Federer bravely fought back to repeatedly frustrate and eventually wear down the Gonzalez, physically and mentally, to take the match in four sets, 2-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.
• In the semifinals, Federer brought to a halt the amazing run of another Frenchman, Gael Monfils, who put up a brave fight for a place in the finals. But the tennis great from Switzerland was simply too good, especially at the crucial points of the match, and set up a showdown with Nadal via a four-set victory, 6-2 5-7 6-3 7-5.

Roger's road to the finals indeed has been relatively rocky compared to that of Nadal who has shown his utter dominance on the red stuff by winning all his matches this year at the French Open in straight sets. Yes, Federer has had some periods of brilliance but in my opinion--I'm sorry to say--will not have enough consistency to stop the three-time Roland Garros champion from winning a fourth straight title.

Of course, I hope Federer will prove me completely wrong.
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