Deluded Past Champions

Are there any past champions more lovely than Natalie Dechy and Gustavo Kuerten?

When asked what her secret for success was early in her career, Dechy replied that she played with a lot of love. And Kuerten forever won my heart even long before he drew a heart on the center court at Roland Garros after another French Open victory and donned a T-shirt saying he hearts the French Open.

So what is up with these two now? Sadly, both seem to still be suffering from the extreme pressures of the tennis media to be number one. No all-star teams in this sport--you're either tops or derided.

Why else would Dechy after winning the mixed doubles title this year--an amazing feat--promise to the crowd that she'd be back next year winning the singles title? Exactly how likely is that? I think another victory by Chris Evert at this point is more likely.

Or why would Guga Kuerten in presenting the winner and runner-up trophies to Nadal and Federer announce to the crowd that next year he hoped to be at the final stage of Roland Garros ... playing. Yes, winning may have been the happiest moment in this three-time champ's life. And fun for the rest of us to go along for the ride. Perhaps that unreasonable drive is what helped make Kuerten and Dechy a winner in so many matches in the first place.

Right Strategy?

Was it just me or did it seem like, despite all his assertions of having the right strategy last year and this, Roger Federer didn't have the right tactics playing Nadal after all?

I couldn't help wondering, as Rafa dismantled one of the most effortless looking players since Stefan Edberg. Was it really wise to keep hitting it back to lefty Rafa's forehand again and again?

Yes, charging the net seemed to pay off some in the second set, even though some extremely errant shots made it clear that Federer isn't likely to ever become the next McEnroe, however much John would like to pretend he is Federer as he pretends to be a commentator. But since when did rushing the net result in many French Open titles?

I actually was pulling for Nadal, just as blatantly as McEnroe was pulling for Federer. (One slight difference--a fan isn't supposed to be neutral.)

Why was I rah rah for Rafa? The kid doesn't just look like an angel with a racquet in place of wings--he's got an emptier trophy case than Roger. And I'm a sucker for an underdog, as long as he or she isn't as ugly on the court as the likes of Sharapova and Serena, who actually are underdogs on the terre battu.

But I noticed a pattern in when I stopped cheering during the match. Nadal's cross-court backhand was distinctly off in the first set, and much of the second. I went for a run at the beginning of the third, assuming that Federer would run away with it. And when I returned at the beginning of the fourth, I was too excited that Nadal had won the third to deconstruct the points much from that point on. Frankly, the match almost seemed over by then. Nadal's confidence was sky high, and Federer just looked kind of sullen, like maybe if he scowled big enough someone might bring him over the bigger trophy instead of the smaller one.

How refreshing to read Federer's characteristically sportmanlike remarks after the match was done and one more chance to win it past him. It almost made me want to give him a word of advice to help him out the next time.

It's hard to imagine, after all, anyone more in need of some tennis tips than Roger Federer.

Cross-court didn't work, Rog. Rushing the net didn't either. Next time, assuming there is one, what about down the line?