Well, its been almost 40 days without posting a Blog & believe you me, these 40 days are looking like almost 40 years because of numerous reasons !!
So, Here, I am on the eve of yet another mouth-watering Nadal vs Federer epic clash to share with you my most special moments of French Open !!!
Believe it or not, it will be the 22nd Final of French Open that I will be seeing :)… Yes, if you read it rightly, I have been seeing and following Grand Slams ever since I was 4 y/o :)……
The first French Open Final that I saw was in 1989 (4-June-1989) , The year of Michael Chang, the New Teenage sensation whom every one described as the greatest youngest player of all time !!!
Here’s a rare picture of Chang Holding the French Open Trophy.. Photo taken on June 4th, 1989…. I still remember, that evening, attended a birthday party of a friend and I was more interested in seeing the score and television rather than talking to any one 🙂
I consider French Open as so special because it’s the real test of Strength, Power and of course, Perseverance…
When I think of Power-house and Perseverance, of course, the Names of
Sergi Bruguera the winner of 1993 & 1994 Title
Sergi Bruguera in a winning Moment after defeating Jim Courier on 6-June-1993
How can I ever forget the come back man, one of the real Heroes, Thomas Muster (The King Of Clay).. If by chance, you don’t know Thomas Muster, please search about him now and you will be stunned….
Thomas Muster, kissing the trophy on 11-June-1995 :).. This picture is pasted on all my books and I always draw inspiration from Thomas (A real champ & true example of Never Say Never)
Continuing the tradition of Power Houses & Strengths, how can one ever forget the Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten ( #GUGA )…The winner of 1997, 2001 and 2001 title 🙂
The ever smiling Guga in a happy mood on 8-June-1997 🙂
Of all these years, the happiest year of my Life was indeed 1999 :)…This was the year when Andre Agassi won the French Open and became only the fifth male player in the Open Era to win all Grand Slams :)) …..
(Ofcourse, 6th Now is Roger Federer and 7th is Rafael Nadal)
Andre Agassi in an Emotional victorious moment on 7th June, 1999 after winning the French Open beating Andrei Medvedev in five sets…
This was probably the first time that I also cried after seeing a Tennis match and I can never forget a single point of that emotional match #NOSTALGIA !!!
The 2002 and 2003 finals were won by Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero and indeed these are the only two years of my Tennis life, of which I have the least memories :)…
The 2004 final was arguably the most weird match in French Open History !!
Guillermo Coria had won the first two sets against Gaston Gaudio in virtually no time.. Then, all of a sudden, Coria got a cramp & lost the next two sets in the blink of an eye !!!
What still amazes me, all of a sudden, how Coria got energy & strength to fight so hard in the 5th set & he really gave a tough fight & won so many hearts before losing 8-6 in the final set…
He still remains one of those all time best clay court players who couldn’t ever win a French Open !!! I can never ever forget the almost perfect quarter-final that he played against Agassi in 2003..If you missed that match, boy O boy, U missed the meaning of perfect example of how to play on Clay court !!!
Gaudio posing with the French Open trophy after winning in the most Weird final played on 6-June-2004 🙂
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Start of ROGER FEDERER & RAFAEL NADAL RIVALRY
French Open of 2005 saw the Hurricane Rafael Nadal making his Debut at the French Open and that started one of the greatest Rivalry in the Tennis History !!!
Roger Federer & Nadal met each other for the first time in a Grand Slam 0n 3-June- 2005 (How can any one ever forget that date: being the Birthday of Rafa also)….
Nadal defeated Roger 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
King Roger congratulating the young Teenager on his b’day : 3-June-2005…
Ofcourse, Roger cried after giving this hug to Rafa ….
Two days later i.e. on 5-June-2005, Rafa became the second male player to win the French Open on his first attempt after Mats Wilander did it in 2005 !!!
Nadal with his first French open title trophy ( 5th-June-2005 )
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2006 : & The Rivalry continues 🙂
2006 Again saw the Great champs, Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal playing in the Finals again on 11-June-2005… Though, Roger won the first set quite easily 6-1 in very windy conditions, but all of a sudden, Roger’s game especially his back hand absolutely deserted him & Rafa won the next three sets 6–1, 6–4, 7–6 (7-4)
Rafa with this title trophy and Roger with his runner up trophy ….Of course, Roger cried but had covered his face with a towel
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2007 : The Year of Rains & Of course, The Rivalry Continues !!!!!
2007 French Open will always be remembered for the continuous rains and of course, the Rivalry continuing between these great champs..
This time, the Final was played on 10th June – 2005 and the first set was won by Rafa 6-3 with amazing ground strokes , but Roger made a come-back by winning the second 6-4 , But Rafa in sheer display of flaw-less tennis won the next two sets 6-3 & 6-4 !!!!
Nadal & Roger with their trophies … Guga in center ………
Yes, Roger cried very badly that year and his tears were next to what he got after losing in the Aus Open in 2009 :(((
An interesting fact for all Indian fans, 2007 French open saw 2004 Miss world competition winner & now, Mrs. Aishwarya Rai bachchan attending a couple of matches 🙂
Mrs. Bachchan watching a match during 2007 French Open @ Roland Garros.
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2008 : Rivalry still continues but one of the most disappointing finale !!!
2008 French Open began with the sad news of Justin Henin retiring from Tennis & Also, with the news that it will be Guga’s Goodbye to the Tennis world !!
Unfortunately, 8th June – 2008 is a witness of being the only day in Tennis History when the King Roger Federer let himself & his Fans down & out with a hope-less display 🙁
Nadal won 6-1 , 6-3, 6-0 & the score-line still makes me very-very sad 🙁
ROGER looking as dejected as a wet hen & yes, he did cry a lot & infact, all his fans did that day for sure 🙁
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2009 : The year of History in Making & Time for Some sweet Revenge !!!
2009 will always be remembered by all Roger fans as the Golden year of the century :)… Mainly Thanks to Soderling who managed to defeat Nadal on 31-May-2009 6–2, 6–7(2), 6–4, 7–6(2) [All you roger fans, please don’t get angry on me for this special thanks to soderling] 🙂
Finally, on 7th June, 2011, Roger completed his Career Grand Slam collection by defeating Robin Soderling 6–1, 7–6(1), 6–4…
It was Roger’s 14th Grand Slam & equalled Sampras’s record & also he became just the third player in the Open era (after Rod Laver and Andre Agassi) and sixth player in tennis history overall to accomplish that. He became only the second player in tennis history (after Agassi) to do it on three different surfaces (hard, clay and grass) 😛
Federer reacting after winning the match !!!
How just, Roger got the trophy from Agassi who completed his Career Grand Slam exactly 10 years in 1999 🙂
The Expression says it all.. What a man, what a player, what a Legend !!!
This victory really meant so much for Fedex , the expression says it all !!
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2010 :: First Time in six years & return of the Hurricane Nadal
2010 French Open will always be remembered for being the first time since the 2004 French Open that Federer did not reach at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament… He lost out to Soderling in the Quarter Finals on 1st June- 2010 🙁
Eventually, Nadal won the Final by defeating Soderling 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 on 6th June – 2010….
Also, btw, 2010 French Open also saw Mrs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attending French Open once again.. Few Pics ::
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2011: And the Great Rivalry continues & eventually the winner is
Again, Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer to win the French Open 2011 …..
Nadal defeated Roger 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-1 on June 5th-2011 & the win allowed him to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of six Roland Garros crowns and also means he holds on to the world No.1 ranking
The two Greatest champions and the most perfect brand Ambassadors of this great sport…
Well, the zillion dollar question still remains will Roger be ever able to beat Rafa at French Open ?? Or will it always remain a Dream for Roger & his fans ?? Don’t forget to give your valuable comments 🙂
Thanks a lot for reading …
