The second Grand Slam of the year is the prestigious Rolland Garros played on the slow red clay of Paris. This Grand Slam is unique mainly because of the surface it is played on. While grass and hard courts are the quicker surfaces, the bouncy slow courts test a person’s fitness and mental toughness. The longest matches in the history of tennis have been played on clay courts; in fact the longest official match in the History of Tennis has been between Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement which lasted for 6 hours 33 minutes during the 2004 French open. Thus the surface suits players with more muscle and stamina, who make less unforced errors, compared to the hard hitters or serve and volleyers.
The French open has seen many great champions, but it has also seen many great champions fall as well. The likes of Sampras have only managed to reach till the semi finals, and the likes of Federer really struggling to win the title, which he eventually did in 2009. The point is that while the other surfaces demand a different kind of tennis, clay has its variations. Players like Rafael Nadal who muscle the ball, giving it unbelievable rotations to control the unforced errors, have done really well in this tournament. Amazingly, the first time Nadal ever played in this tournament, he lifted the trophy.
This year though the competition is tougher than perhaps ever before. This is because people are adapting to the American grip which gives more control and spin on the ball, making the game more suitable for clay. Nadal who lost for the first time in this tournament last year, still is the favorite for this year’s event, mainly because of the current form in which he is playing his tennis. He has won two consecutive ATP masters1000 events coming into the French open, and still has the chance to make history by winning the Madrid open going on right now. He has the best record in terms of wins and losses coming into the French Open.
Though he is the current World number one and the defending champion, Roger Federer is still comes as the second most favorite player to win the coveted title. Last year, he did not face Rafael Nadal during his run to the title, a nemesis which was haunting him for the past four attempts. Nadal, who was not hundred percent physically fit, lost in the 4th round against the Swede Soderling. Soderling eventually reached the final where the relieved Federer won the title, which eluded him previously. Federer is out of top form up till now losing before the quarter finals in 2 of his last 3 ATP 1000 events. Thus one would back Rafael if it comes down to their match.
Other favorites include the Spaniards, Fernando Verdasco and David Ferer, both of whom have reached the final stages of the ATP 1000 clay court events that lead up to the French Open. Although Nadal eventually beat Verdasco in Monte Carlo, and Ferer in Rome, they did comfortably won against the other players in the tour.
Then comes the World number two, Novak Djokovic, but he has lost comfortably against the clay court experts discussed above, during the season.
Andy Murrey is also someone to look out for. Although Clay is one of his least favorite surfaces, his consistency and fitness may play an important role during the grueling five setters.
The list of candidates include all of the other top ten ranked players in the world, including the current US open Champion, Juan Martin Del-Porto and Mr Consistent, Nikolay Davedenko. Ivan Ljubicic is in good form as well but his huge serves won’t count for much on clay.
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