Nadal Makes it Number Six in Paris

Nadal and Borg in 2008 [Julian Finney / Getty]

Rafael Nadal of Spain equalled Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles after defeating Roger Federer 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 in a hard-hitting final at Roland Garros.

The world number one brushed off an early injury concern to move into a commanding two-set lead and seemed to be heading for an easy win.

Some inspired play from Federer caused Nadal to wobble at the end of the third set but the Swiss player could not keep mistakes out of his game and any hopes of an unlikely comeback were soon killed off by the clay court master.

Nadal raced away from his great rival in the fourth set to move level with Borg as the man with the most French Open titles since the tournament became an international event in 1925.

But it had been Federer who took control of the match early on as Nadal was forced to save three break points in his opening service game before finally giving in on the fourth.

Federer consolidated the break and charged into a 5-2 lead, with Nadal's troubles compounded when he called the trainer to attend a heavily-strapped left foot at the change of ends.

Recovery

The 2009 champion had a set point in the next game but sliced a drop shot just wide, with Nadal recovering to hold serve before saving the set by breaking Federer with a brilliant forehand in the next game.

The momentum had now swung firmly in the defending champion's favour and he broke again when Federer looped a forehand out before winning his fifth game in a row to round off the set.

Nadal's run continued as he secured another break in the opening game of the second set as Federer, despite showing flashes of brilliance, committed far too many errors to live with his great rival.

Federer did manage to break back but dropped serve again straight afterwards, with Nadal left serving for the set when the first rain delay of the whole tournament intervened to stop play.

The brief halt in the action breathed new life into Federer, who broke after saving a set point to put the set on course for a tie-break.

But in the breaker, Federer netted a forehand on the first point and the Spaniard did not look back as further errors from the third seed allowed him to run away into a two-set lead.

Deficit

Nadal pounced again in the sixth game of the third set as Federer lashed a forehand into the tramlines at 0-40 down to fall to what everyone thought was an irreversible deficit, but he would go on to dominate the rest of the set.

Nadal was soon faced with three break points on his own serve and a delicate forehand drop shot grabbed the break back for Federer before a service hold restored parity in the set.

The 16-time grand slam champion earned three more break points in the 11th game and converted the second to go a break up, with a dominant hold then taking the match into a fourth set.

Nadal again went 0-40 down in the opening game but fought back for an important hold and subsequently started to dominate on serve once more.

Meanwhile, the errors started to creep back into Federer's game as he dumped a forehand into the net to hand Nadal a break and this time the world number three would not come back.

There was no let up in Nadal's intensity as he broke again in the sixth game before serving out the match to love, securing victory after a three hour and 40 minute long battle.

Li Na Writes Chinese Sports History

Li Na

Li Na achieved a personal dream and changed Chinese sports history Saturday at the French Open.

Li beat defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy, 6-4, 7-6 (0) to take the women's title at Roland Garros, becoming the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles trophy.

In January, she became the first Asian-born player to reach a major championship match at the Australian Open, where she lost to Kim Clijsters of Belgium.

The American-born Michael Chang, who won the 1989 French Open men's title at age 17, was the first player of Asian heritage to win a major.

It's a "dream come true," Li, 29, said. "Since I was a young player, I wanted to be the Grand Slam champion. Someone said I'm getting old, but the old woman likes it that the dream came true. It wasn't easy."

The sixth-seeded Li was introduced to tennis by her parents at age 9 in Wuhan, China, after playing badminton for two years. Li and Zheng Jie were once considered a platform generation, laying the foundation for the next generation of Chinese champions to come. But Li ended up becoming that champion herself.

Li broke away from the Chinese government's sports system in late 2008 under an experimental reform policy dubbed "Fly Alone." Li was given the freedom to choose her own coach (Denmark's Michael Mortensen) and to keep much more of her earnings: Previously, she turned over 65 percent to the authorities; now it's 12 percent. That comes to about $205,000 of the $1.7 million French Open winner's check.

"It was tough, I retired for two years, had injuries," Li said, a laptop by her side on which she had just been writing a blog for 2 million fans who follow her on the Chinese website Sina.com.

WTA Tour CEO Stacey Allaster said, "After the Australian Open, they made Li a national hero. I think now she will go to rock-star status."

Li's progress has been avidly followed in China. After she beat former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia in the semifinals, the Shanghai-based Oriental Daily said she was the "No. 1 Sister" of Chinese sports. Her semifinal win was watched by as many as 65 million viewers in China.

In the final, Li won the first set by putting Schiavone under pressure with her forehand. She led 4-2 in the second before Schiavone fought back to go in front 5-4. With Li serving at 6-5 and 40-40, the umpire overruled a call of out on a Li backhand over Schiavone's protests.

The reversal seemed to unnerve the Italian; Li won the game on the next point to force a tiebreaker; she won all seven points to capture the title.

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Epic Roger Ends Djokovic Run

Djokovic and Federer

Roger Federer will play Rafael Nadal in a fourth French Open final after ending Novak Djokovic’s winning run in 2011 with an extraordinary 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7/5) victory last night.

The world number two was looking to equal John McEnroe’s record of 42 straight wins to start a season and become world number one but it was not to be, and tomorrow Federer will attempt to beat Nadal for the first time at Roland Garros.

Djokovic was below his best in the opening two sets, perhaps affected by his five-day break following the withdrawal of quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini, but he got better and better and the fourth set was sporting drama of the highest quality.

A combination of the surface and the wind have made service breaks more common than usual in the men’s tournament this year, and it was the same at the start of this match as a break for Federer in the opening game was followed up by one for Djokovic.

The Serb then saved four more break points to secure the first service hold before moving 4-2 in front. Back came Federer, though, and the 2009 champion showed what he is made of by saving two set points at 4-5.

The Swiss was clearly the crowd favourite and he was rising to the challenge, maintaining the form that had seen him reach the last four without losing a set.

The tie-break was as tense as the occasion suggested it should be and, although Djokovic retrieved an early mini-break, he dumped a forehand into the net on Federer’s first set point to a mighty roar from the enthralled crowd.

The Swiss saved a break point at the start of the second and, when he broke Djokovic to move 3-1 in front, the prospect of another Federer-Nadal final was a very real one. Djokovic has been supreme this year but at some point it was inevitable he would not be able to keep up that standard, and he had to battle very hard to stop Federer moving 5-1 ahead.

The 24-year-old was under siege but he continued to dig deep, saving five set points in his next service game, and there was a brief opening when Federer then conceded a break point of his own.

But that disappeared in the blink of an ace and on his sixth chance the 16-time grand slam champion moved two sets ahead.

An early break in the third set though gave Djokovic an edge that he maintained to take the set.

The 24-year-old had cut his unforced errors right down and, when Federer’s first serve went missing in the ninth game of the fourth set, Djokovic had his chance. The Serb just missed with a backhand on his first break point but on his second Federer framed a forehand to leave Djokovic serving to level the match.

The 29-year-old was not finished, though, and the crowd were on their feet when he creamed a backhand down the line to bring the set back on serve at 5-5.

Federer then saved two more break points with big serves to leave Djokovic serving to stay in the match. When 30-0 became 30-30, the crowd sensed this was the moment, but the second seed showed nerves of steel to hang on and force a tie-break.

The crucial error came from Djokovic, though, allowing Federer a mini-break for 4-3, which he consolidated with two big serves. A net cord saved one match point and an ace the second, but an 18th ace gave the world number three victory with darkness falling.

“I said it earlier, I wasn’t here to spoil the party,” Federer said at a news conference. “Just trying to put in a good match and trying to get to the final, which I’m now obviously happy I’m able to. But it almost feels somewhat like I’ve won the tournament, which is not the case, you know. Silverware is still out there to be won, and I’m looking forward to the match with Rafa, who I guess is my true rival for the last few years.”

Tough Men's Semi-finals at French Open

Andy Murray

Rafael Nadal described it as the best player in the world against the best player in history, and that is without taking into account what is at stake.

The French Open semi-final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is certainly the most eagerly-awaited match at Roland Garros this year, and for Djokovic it could be a life-changing one.

Victory over the 16-time grand slam champion would see the Serb overtake Nadal to become world number one for the first time, while he would also equal John McEnroe's 1984 record of 42 straight wins to start a season.

Were Federer to win, the Swiss would reach the final for the fifth time in six years and show that he is not ready to make way for the Nadal and Djokovic show just yet.

The 29-year-old insisted making the final and not stopping Djokovic is his primary motivation, saying: 'It's not the driving force behind this match. For me, the plan is trying to get a step further and into the finals of the French Open.

'That's why I entered the French Open, it wasn't to stop Novak. I know he has a lot on the line. I was there myself in 2004 when I was going for world number one against (David) Ferrer in Australia in the semis of a grand slam. So it's a similar situation.'

Federer has not had the best of seasons by his high standards, losing to Djokovic in straight sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and reaching only one final since Melbourne, which brought another defeat by the Serb in Dubai.

However, he has looked back to something like his best on the Paris clay and is the only player to have reached the last four without dropping a set.

'I think there's less at stake for me than for him,' said the Swiss.

'I'd love to be in a grand slam final again because I haven't achieved that in a few slams. But nothing major for me as long as I keep on giving myself chances.

'I think I'm playing really well again. Even during the clay-court season, I thought I wasn't playing poorly. I had some tough losses but now I can really play the way I was hoping to play here at the French Open.'

Federer has been hugely impressed with Djokovic this season and thinks playing such a high-profile match tomorrow could help him.

The third seed added: 'I'm sure it's been tricky for him, but he's been doing a great job. Now maybe the streak is less at stake in some ways because it's more of a big match against me, so it's easier to focus just on playing me instead of the whole situation.

'I think the number one situation is the big one right now for him and not so much the streak. But it all goes hand in hand. It's going to be an interesting day.'

Another factor is that Djokovic has not played a match since Sunday after quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini withdrew because of injury.

Andy Murray, who plays Nadal in the other semi-final, believes that could be a problem for the second seed.

He said: 'It's going to be a great match. I'm sure for Novak it will be a little bit strange; five days off in the middle of a grand slam is very rare. He definitely wouldn't have been through it before.

'We were talking about it a little bit the last couple of days. What would you actually do if you had five days off during a grand slam? Would you play some sets? Would you take it easy?

'I know he's played a lot of tennis but he's got to be switched on from the start against Roger, because he's playing Roger.

'It will be very interesting and I think if the conditions are like they have been the last few days it's going to be pretty unpredictable.'

Andy Murray did things the hard way again as he defeated unseeded Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 (7/2) 7-5 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time.

The world number four fought back from two breaks down to win the first set then squandered the same advantage in the second before eventually battling through.

The prize for Murray, who looked mentally and physically drained after an eventful few days in Paris, is a last-four clash with five-time champion Rafael Nadal on Friday.

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Na Defeats Sharapova in Straight Sets

Maria Sharapova

Li Na reached her second successive grand slam final as she beat Maria Sharapova in straight sets in the last four of the French Open.

The Chinese sixth seed, who lost out to Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open earlier in the year, saw off her opponent 6-4 7-5 at Roland Garros.

it put an end to Sharapova's hopes of claiming the only grand slam crown to elude her in what was her first major semi-final appearance since 2009.

The Russian - who has fought back to form after a long spell out with a shoulder problem - was repeatedly let down by her serve against Na, especially on the big points, as she produced ten double-faults.

She found herself trailing from the off as Na claimed an early break and backed it up to move into a 3-0 lead.

Fought back

But Sharapova fought her way back into the contest with her heavy groundstrokes increasingly finding their mark.

She broke back to move within one at 3-4 and, having lost her serve again, dug deep for another break to pull back to 4-5.

But needing to hold her serve to stay in the set she broke down in spectacular style with a couple of doubles gifting her rival the game and set.

It was Na's turn to falter on serve in the second as a double handed Sharapova the early impetus with a break.

But, somewhat predictably, the Russian returned the favour to level the scores at 4-4 and the contest then remained on serve as Na edged 6-5 ahead.

At that point Sharapova's delivery again came undone on the windy Philippe Chatrier Court, and after Na had forced two match points, she gifted her rival a passage through to the final with another weak double.

Djokovic Gets Unexpected Paris Day Off

Rafa Nadal

Novak Djokovic had a successful day off from tennis Monday, reaching the semifinals of the French Open when his quarter final opponent withdrew because of injury.

Fabio Fognini, who injured a muscle in his left leg while beating Albert Montanes on Sunday, announced Monday that he would not be able to play Djokovic, who is 41-0 in 2011 and has won 43 straight matches overall.

"The doctors say if I play tomorrow maybe it can be dangerous," Fognini said, calling his decision "difficult" and adding he had his leg checked by a doctor only 20 minutes earlier.

Djokovic will not be credited with a victory over Fognini because the Italian withdrew.

That means Djokovic would have to wait until after the French Open -- assuming he won it -- before getting the chance to equal Guillermo Vilas' overall Open era record of 46 straight victories.

Fognini beat Montanes 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

While Djokovic relaxed and readied for the semifinals,Rafael Nadal and Juan Ignacio Chela both reached the semifinals with victories on Monday. Nadal beat Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 6-3, 6-3, while Chela downed Alejandro Falla of Colombia 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

While trailing late Sunday, Fognini winced in pain at the baseline after hitting a serve and clutched at his left leg. He had his leg massaged and resumed, but eventually had his troublesome thigh wrapped in a bandage.

"(The match) was really incredible, it was really long. At the end I was not really good," Fognini said. "But I did some examinations after the match. I was crying after the match, also for the pain, but I think that's normal."

While trailing 7-6 and serving at 15-30 -- meaning Montanes was two points from victory -- Fognini hurt his leg.

If Djokovic wins his semifinal match, he would equal John McEnroe's Open era record for the best start to a tennis season and clinch the No. 1 ranking.

With three more wins, the second-seeded Serb will match the record of 46 straight wins set by Guillermo Vilas.

The two-time Australian Open champion has never won the title at Roland Garros, but he beat Nadal in two clay-court finals leading up to the French Open.

Federer will have to beat either No. 7 David Ferrer or No. 9 Gael Monfils to advance to the semifinals.

Clijsters Loses Dutch Battle in Paris

Kim Clijsters blew two match points and lost 11 of the last 12 games as she crashed out of the French Open with a 3-6 7-5 6-1 defeat at the hands of Dutch outsider Arantxa Rus in the second round.

Belgian Clijsters was runner-up in 2001 and 2003 and her exit was her worst performance at Roland Garros since her debut in 2000. The Australian and US Open champion was also on a 15-match winning streak at grand slams.

Rus, the world number 114, was ecstatic and said: 'I just wanted to go for every point. I'd like to play every day like this,' she said at courtside.

The winner must have feared the worst when Clijsters raced through the first three games but the Dutchwoman dug in and began to trouble her opponent off the ground.

The second seed always had the edge though despite the windy conditions and a run of five hard-fought games in a row gave her the first set, and a 3-0 lead in the second.

Again Rus battled back, and the errors continued to come frequently from the Clijsters racquet, but it always seemed only a matter of time before the 27-year-old strung enough points together to finish things off.

However, after failing to take advantage of a match point at 5-2, she lost six of the next seven points to give her opponent a sniff of a chance, and Rus then saved another match point before levelling proceedings at 5-5.

The 20-year-old was now playing extremely well and she broke Clijsters - whose dream of a third grand slam title in a row was fast fading - for a second successive time before taking the second set with her fifth game in a row.

The Belgian, who did not appear to be moving particularly well, stopped the rot with a gutsy hold at the start of the third set but then let three break points slip away on the Rus serve.

When the Dutchwoman followed up by breaking again, the prospect of an early exit for Clijsters began to look a distinct probability.

The second seed had an outrageous slice of luck when a ball hit the top of the net and then the net post before dropping back into play but any thoughts that might indicate it was her day after all were swiftly dispelled.

A double fault handed Rus a 4-1 lead and she clinched a famous victory and a place in the third round of a grand slam for the first time on her second match point with a backhand winner.

Roger Federer Eases Through in Paris

Roger Federer produced a masterclass to brush aside French wildcard Maxime Teixeira in 84 minutes 6-3 6-0 6-2 in the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

The Swiss was broken back in the first set but went on to win comfortably with some sublime shotmaking, at one point winning 13 consecutive games.

He will next face Janko Tipsarevic after he also won in straight sets, 6-1 6-3 6-0 over Pere Riba.

World number 181 Teixeira had never played in the main draw of an ATP-level event, let alone a Grand Slam, but set up a meeting with the world number three thanks to a five-set victory over fellow Frenchman Vincent Millot in round one.

"It is so hard to play on a big court when you're not used to it. I think Max did a good match. He fought well," said Federer, 16 times a Grand Slam champion, after their match.

Teixeira reflected: "It was an incredible experience. Playing against Roger is something I will never forget. I did what I could."

The 22-year-old began the match confidently despite being broken in the second game, looking to attack Federer, who has not won a Slam since the Australian Open last year.

He responded to that loss immediately, mixing drop shots with accurate drives and taking advantage of a break point when a passing shot was adjudged to have caught the line, much to Federer's disgust.

It would be the only break secured by him throughout the three sets, but during the first of them he put up an admirable fight while Federer found his range.

Federer hit his rhythm to break for 5-3 after a long battle on deuce and closed the set out in the next game, the second of 13 he would win in succession.

During that bagel second set Federer toyed with his opponent, sometimes bringing him in close before passing him and leaving him scrambling for drop shots on several occasions.

The crowd's enthusiasm for their man did not dim in the Paris sunshine and, following a double Federer break in the third set, they acclaimed the hold which ended the spirit-sapping run of games lost. It included a lovely sliced drop shot with sidespin, a shot often favoured by Federer himself.

That put the score at 4-1 and following a further Federer hold, the fans rose to cheer Teixeira as he prepared to serve in what could have proven the final game of the match.

He found himself match point down, but saved it - then won one more game despite throwing away his first serve on both deuce and advantage.

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Roland Garros Plans for Future

The centre court at Roland Garros will have a retractable roof installed for the 2016 French Open, the French tennis federation announced today.

The development of Court Philippe Chatrier, which is almost certain to be a precursor to evening or night sessions, will bring the tournament into line with the rest of the grand slams and is part of a major renovation of the Paris site.

In February, the FFT voted to keep the tournament in the centre of Paris rather than relocate it to a new venue in the suburbs and more details of the plans were revealed at a press conference today.

The site, which is significantly smaller than its equivalents in Melbourne, London and New York and has become increasingly cramped, will expand into the neighbouring botanic gardens, where a new 5,000-seat court will be built.

The plans have met with considerable opposition from some local residents and supporters of the gardens but Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris, insisted no plants will be destroyed and that the new court will be accommodated around the prized Auteuil greenhouses.

He said: 'I would never have accepted to spoil this site. The only thing I could accept was to make it more beautiful, because Roland Garros 2016 will not only be something modern that will be ready to welcome all of the athletes and the public and the companies also who are supporting those tournaments, but it will also make Paris more beautiful.'

Work will start next year on redeveloping Court Suzanne Lenglen and is expected to be completed by 2013. Next year will also see applications for building permits, with special planning permission needed for the new roof.

It is hoped the garden court will be ready by 2014 with the transformation of Court Philippe Chatrier completed in time for the 2016 tournament. The entire project is expected to cost €275million.

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