King of Clay: Nadal topples Federer again for French crown

Tennis Betting Lines

06/10/2007 - Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rafael Nadal continued his sensational success at the French Open, capturing his third consecutive championship with a four-set triumph over Roger Federer in Sunday's title match.

The second-seeded Nadal posted a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory to remain undefeated on the red clay at Roland Garros. The Spaniard has won all 21 matches he has played at the French Open and became the first man to three- peat since the great Bjorn Borg won four in a row from 1978-81.

Not only did Nadal keep his incredible streak intact, but he denied Federer a place in history. The top-seeded Swiss superstar was trying to complete a career Grand Slam and a victory would also have made him the first player to hold all four men's major championships at the same time since Rod Laver captured each in 1969.

The French Open is the only Grand Slam event Federer has not won and Nadal has been the main reason. He lost to Nadal in the semifinals two years ago and dropped a four-setter in last year's title match. After losing last June, Federer went on to capture the Wimbledon crown and the U.S. Open to close out 2006, then won this year's first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January.

It appeared as though Federer might have a strong chance to finally dethrone Nadal and join Fred Perry, Don Budge, Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi in the elite club of those to win all four Grand Slam titles.

Last month, Federer rallied from a set down to beat Nadal on clay with a victory at the Hamburg Masters. It was Federer's first win against his nemesis on the slow surface.

Nadal had his streak of 81 straight match wins on clay stopped with that defeat and gained a measure of revenge on Sunday as he won his 22nd career title and fifth this year. He also won at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.

Federer had his chances -- plenty of them, in fact -- to make a statement early in Sunday's match.

The first set featured a total of 12 break-point chances -- 10 for Federer and two for Nadal. Federer was unable to convert any of his opportunities, while Nadal was successful each time.

Federer failed to convert two in the fourth game, then had five more chances in an epic sixth. Nadal saved the first in the sixth game with an ace, then watched a Federer backhand error set up the first of six deuces in the game. After three more Federer errors on the next three break-point chances, Nadal finally held for 3-3.

The momentum carried over into the next game, as Nadal broke at love. Federer then had a chance to break at love in the very next game, but Nadal won the next five points to hold for 5-3.

Nadal again gained a break point in the 10th game and set up Federer before blasting a forehand winner to capture the set.

Federer looked slightly listless early in the second set and had to stave off a break point in the fourth game, but he regrouped and gained three break points in the seventh game.

Nadal saved the first with a backhand winner, but finally, on his 12th chance, Federer came through. He drilled a perfect cross-court forehand to the line and Nadal netted the return to give Federer a 4-3 lead.

Federer nearly gave it right back, but saved a pair of break points in the next game to hold and almost broke again in the ninth game. He had four chances to close out the set, but made three errors before Nadal finally won it after a sixth deuce.

It only prolonged the set momentarily, as Federer held without much difficulty to even the match.

Nadal wasn't fazed, however, and stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the third set. He broke serve in the second game, as Federer's attempted volley of a Nadal passing shot went long.

Federer didn't manage a single break point against Nadal's serve in the third set, but had two chances on the Spaniard's first service game of the fourth and failed to convert. Nadal hit a forehand down the line to save the first and watched Federer commit a backhand error on the second.

Nadal then set up a pair of breaks in the very next game when he raced to the net and hit a winner off a Federer drop shot. A running forehand hit the net on the first try, but Federer drilled a shot into the net on the second to give Nadal a 2-1 lead.

Federer could not make a dent in Nadal's serve the rest of the way and Nadal easily held in the final game, capturing the match when a Federer forehand sailed long.

Nadal improved to 8-4 lifetime against Federer, whose best surface is up next.

The brief grass court season begins next week, a two-week run of tuneup tournaments leading up to Wimbledon.

Federer has captured the last four Wimbledon titles, including a triumph over Nadal in last year's finale at the All-England Club.