Set apart from the stakes and the contest, the Rafael Nadal machinery — a trite usage but not without reason — functioned to near perfection for two weeks at Roland Garros. Watching a game so co-ordinated towards achieving a purpose so singular over the course of seven matches was elevating. Despite operating in a hyperbole-driven world, it might not sound misplaced to hail Nadal — who equalled Bjorn Borg’s record of four consecutive French Open cro wns — as the game’s finest on clay.
The four-time Roland Garros winner has busted myths on the one-dimensional excellence sufficient for succeeding on clay. Aware enough to understand his clay-court game could evolve, Nadal’s backhand slice and his much improved offensive tactics were the features of his 2008 campaign. These worked in perfect congruence to his speed and retrieval skills and the ability to engineer escapes with a backhand effort down the line that nearly always fell an inch within — not by chance.
The Spaniard’s aura on this surface built itself on facing Federer in three consecutive finals, and one semifinal. Federer’s tactical stubbornness offered itself to Nadal. It was painful, yet strangely fascinating, that the very same gifts bestowed on the Swiss genius were being clinically nullified.
Having despatched the world No.1 and one of the game’s greatest in three successive finals has only added lustre to Nadal’s achievements.
Nadal’s efficient game on clay is nearly an antipode of human error. On court, the license to err, to experiment in pursuit of bigger rewards is left unused, as the 22-year-old Nadal makes his opponent play that extra shot, attempt that extra winner. As the World No. 1 has repeatedly done on other surfaces, Nadal on clay makes the opponent contend with his skills and the repeated fear of underrating them.
Surprising as it was to see Federer not trying, Nadal realistically offered him no chance. Cramped for space, the top seed overcompensated for retrievals with volleys that had too much angle and not enough height. Again, Federer’s reverence for Nadal’s speed manifested itself in every attempt that found the net.
The four-time Roland Garros winner has busted myths on the one-dimensional excellence sufficient for succeeding on clay. Aware enough to understand his clay-court game could evolve, Nadal’s backhand slice and his much improved offensive tactics were the features of his 2008 campaign. These worked in perfect congruence to his speed and retrieval skills and the ability to engineer escapes with a backhand effort down the line that nearly always fell an inch within — not by chance.
The Spaniard’s aura on this surface built itself on facing Federer in three consecutive finals, and one semifinal. Federer’s tactical stubbornness offered itself to Nadal. It was painful, yet strangely fascinating, that the very same gifts bestowed on the Swiss genius were being clinically nullified.
Having despatched the world No.1 and one of the game’s greatest in three successive finals has only added lustre to Nadal’s achievements.
Nadal’s efficient game on clay is nearly an antipode of human error. On court, the license to err, to experiment in pursuit of bigger rewards is left unused, as the 22-year-old Nadal makes his opponent play that extra shot, attempt that extra winner. As the World No. 1 has repeatedly done on other surfaces, Nadal on clay makes the opponent contend with his skills and the repeated fear of underrating them.
Surprising as it was to see Federer not trying, Nadal realistically offered him no chance. Cramped for space, the top seed overcompensated for retrievals with volleys that had too much angle and not enough height. Again, Federer’s reverence for Nadal’s speed manifested itself in every attempt that found the net.
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