FanHouse French Open

By the time he got off his knees, pulled his face out of his hands and reached into his pocket for the ball he would hit it to screaming fans, the tears were already flowing.

Five months ago, Roger Federer's tears were supposed to be the sign of his dismantling. On Sunday, they were about all that is good in tennis: Good guy. Doing things right. Overcoming. And they were also about history, and whether Federer is now the greatest player of all time.

PARIS (AP) - Rafael Nadal's unbeaten run at the French Open is over.

The four-time defending champion lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-2, 6-7 (7-2), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) Sunday in the fourth round, ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros.

Soderling, seeded 23rd at this year's tournament, ran Nadal ragged on center court with his hard serve and booming forehand.

"This is just one more match," Soderling said.

Pfffft! That's the sound of American men's tennis going up in a final, feeble puff of smoke. It's also the sound of Maria Sharapova's relevance to tennis.

Wait until we get to the grass was all the American men could say after their 0-for performance on the terre batu of Paris at the French Open. Well, it's the second week of Wimbledon and only Andy Roddick is left to rep the world's #9 James Blake went down feebly to Juan

Carlos Ferrero in the 3^rd round. Mardy Fish was weak in his first round effort against Rafael Nadal. Robbie Ginepri folded against Fernando Gonzalez, and alleged rising star Sam Querry basically disappeared.

American men's tennis is on the decline and more trouble is on the winds as there are no young talented players appearing on the horizon. The powers that be in the United States Tennis Association hem and haw and hand-wring, but they seem comfortable with Roddick carrying the torch into the inevitable butt-kicking he faces against Roger Federer. And the sad thing is, beyond A-Rod, we don't even seem to care.

Now to Maria. The fist-pumping and "Vamos" screaming after routine points and the "oh my god, did I just win that match" fake surprise after 6-2, 6-4 second and third round wins has made her a near-pariah to her peers. The act plays nowhere but in the minds of fans that have no understanding of the game and a weak-willed, fawning television and print press.

Justine Henin, in her French Open finals post-match press conference had this to say (question and answer):

Q. Weren't you afraid that the emotional side of things would have too much influence on that match?

JUSTINE HENIN: No, I didn't panic. I knew I was not starting that match well. I can tell you, I had a horrible night. My herpes came out again, and I said to my doctor, "Well, I see everything is fine, it's great."

So, really, I was a bit anxious. But also, I really wanted to do well. And very early in the match, the match turned over. And then I knew I was going to be able to keep it up until the end. (enphasis mine)

Henin is recently divorced. Is this part of the reason for the split with her husband?

I mean I'm just sayin'. And will this be an excuse for future losses? I can hear it now:

Q: Justine, in the second set your forehand just seemed to fail you, and you seemed to tire as the match went on. Is that true?

Henin: Well, my herpes began to act up and I wanted to get off the court before my sore began to show.

I'll be looking out for all of Henin's post-match interviews from here on out.

It's set three and I get the feeling that both players are still feeling a lot of pressure at a time in the match when the pressure of playing the match normally has wilted away. There are no yells of "Vamos!" from Nadal; not many fist pumps from Federer.

Federer came to net 17 times in the second set compared with six in the first. As far back as Nadal stands to return Federer;s serve, Roger could stand to come in even more. A Nadal forehend winner gives him double-break point at 15-40.

Nadal gets the break as Federer plays his worst service game. While Nadal is content to stand eight to 10 feet behind the baseline and play defense until he gets a relatively short shot, Federer must force the action. And when he does, Federer must hit deep approach shots or he gives Nadal time to hit passing shots.

At 3-0 Nadal, it appears that Raffa allows Federer to hold his serve, which may not be the best thing to do. Any lapse in concentration in a match like this can swing the momentum in favor of the opponent in a flash. However, it appears that Federer is the player who has the more difficult time keeping it together as he misses toe easy returns. Just as quickly, though, he comes back with a nice forehand winner to even the game at 30-all. Nadal crushes a forehand to get the game to 40-30.

Again, at 4-1 Nadal plays a loose game on Federer's serve. Additionally Nadal's first serve percentage is dipping rapidly. But Roger dumps two forehands in the net to allow Raffa to get to 30-15 on his serve. A third missed forehand give Nadal two game points. Federer screams at himself, then promptly hits another wild forehand to give Nadal the game; 5-2 Nadal. I wouldn't put it past Nadal to really concentrate this game and try to break Federer's serve - which might just break the world number one's spirit.

Federer faced down Nadal to even the second set a 2-all. The question is: will Roger loosen up and just play tennis and forget about all the "best ever" hype? Nadal has actually played rather poorly, but Federer has done nothing to pressure Nadal.

After winning an amazing point, Federer sprays a short forehand and instead of being up 15-40, he's down 40-30 with Nadal serving. McEnroe pointed out aptly that Federer has hit no drop shots, no slices off his backhand. Nor has he used it to lure Nadal to the net where Raffa's game is weakest. If Fed continues on this path, the match will be over within an hour.

What is interesting about Federer's performance is that he is nearly emotionless; the only expression he is showing is one of quiet angst.

Finally! Federer breaks through.... he breaks Nadal's serve on a nice inside-out forehand and Nadal dumps the reply into the net. And Roger ---- gives a fist pump! Maybe this will get him into the match. Will he now be able to hold?

No sooner than I write this, it's 0-30, but Nadal misses an easy forehand return, 15-30.... Federer misses an easy forehand and it's double-break point. Fed squeezes out of one break as Nadal misses a return. And a beautiful kick second serve wins Fed the next breaker: it's deuce. At deuce Federer hit an incredible dipping forehand for a winner, and then misses almost the same shot: deuce again.

Roger then mishits a backhand and Nadal makes him pay with a forehand winner up the line.... break point again. WHAT! Another missed call, by the replay or the line judge? Nadal's lob appeared to be on the line... But Federer saves the break point anyway. On ad-Federer, Roger serves out wide and finally slices a backhand into the open court for a 5-3 lead.

Federer hits a beautiful pass, albeit a mis-hit and Nadal is down 0-30 on his serve.... Fed is a little off-balance and misses an easy backhand (easy for me to say!).....

Nadal misses yet another forehand and it's break point. The fans sense the urgency of the moment. Nadal is shaky. A fantastic serve to Federer's forehand gets him out of one breaker. Why Federer didn't chip his backhand return at 30-40 is beyond me. Federer loses a long point: ad-Nadal.

Fed blasts a backhand cross court swinging Nadal out wide and finishes Nadal off with a forehend - deuce..... this is a key game. Roger ends the deuce point at the net - ad-Fed. Second serve. Federer blows an easy inside-out forehand: deuce.

Nadal gets pushed around again and its advantage Federer yet again.... A key second serve and Federer pushes a forehand into the net on an 85-mph serve.... Kind of a choke.

Federer then misses yet another backhand and is about to let Nadal off the hook..... But then Fed plays a fantastic point to bring things back to deuce. The same backhand that let Federer down last point allows Roger to win this one. Then another clean winner. Is Fed getting in the groove?

Nadal needs a good serve on break point here.... Second serve.... Nadal hits an amazinf forehand hooking it in the court down the line - that's strength.... Deuce. Federer misses a forehand return.... It's soon to be 3-3 first set. Sure enough a good Nadal serve wins the game... Federer has a let down it's 0-30. If Roger loses this match he can point to the 3-2 game when he failed to break Nadal's serve. Now it's 0-40. A missed backhand by Fed and it's 4-3 Nadal..... dare I say, the first set is over?

NO! just as quickly Nadal gets nervous and it's 0-40. Whoops Fed misses an easy backhand return. Nadal has only missed one first serve on break point - he just missed his second.... Federer chokes another forehand: 30-40.... and another. It's deuce.

Dude!!!! Get to net! The chair gets down and misses the call on Nadal's first serve - wonderful. Federer misses yet again. This is a little sad. All he had to do this game was to be aggressive - and he blew it.... 5-3 Nadal. It looks like Federer is giving up - is it the set or the match?

It's set point. This one's for the match. One Nadal Forehand and it's over, 6-3 Nadal. And with it, perhaps Roger's chance at winning the French.

The excuse for Nadal losing in Rome is his being mentally tired. Federer spanks a forehand off Nadal's second serve for a winner, 15-all. Fed backs Nadal up on another serve and Nadal pushes a backhand out . This is a crucial point. Roger takes advantage of another weak Nadal serve for 15-40, double-break point.

Nadal gets out of the first breaker as Federer cannot hit any groundstroke deep, 30-40.....

Raffa hit a wide slice on his first serve, the lefty's's winning stroke to open up the court. and wipe away the second breaker. Nadal then gets serious and pushes Federer around the court. It appears the break points woke up Nadal.

An interesting note: Federer must feel like there's a conspiracy against him here at Roland Garros. For 13 days the courts have played faster than normal. Yet, when he needs it most, Federer walks out and the court is slower than it ever has been.....

Nadal blows an easy forehand and Federer is up 40-0 on his serve. Roger blasts in a first serve, Nadal pushes a forehand long.....

Who's looking like what? Can you tell?

It's 40-30 in the first game Club Fed serving. Johnny Mac says the ball is bouncing high, favoring Nadal.

Federer just held serve.... Raffa's turn. NBC's Mary Carillo points out that Roger has beaten Nadal 3 of 4 of their last head-to-head matches...

Nadal serving. Novak Djokavic says Nadal is the physically strongest player in the world; Federer says he's the fittest. NBC cameras focus on Nadal's biceps (tennis is so weird). Focusing on a player's biceps is a ridiculous notion in other sports, but tennis players aren't known for strength.

Nadal holds easily. It's obvious that he's trying to get a quicker start than last year when he dropped the first set to Federer, 6-1. It's apparent that both players are nervous as Nadal sprays some shots over the baseline. It's now 2-1 Federer.... time to make a post. Early on? No advantage...

Nadal opens the fourth set with yet another equipment backhand wrist shot for a winner. Federer blows an easy volley, letting it dip too far under the net and dropping his writs and the game score is deuce. However, an ace brings Federer to game point. Another service winner gives Fed the first game win.

At 40-30 Nadal hits a poor drop volley and Federer hits a winner bringing game two to deuce. Federer then hits a miraculous defensive slice backhand, Nadal pulls his approach forehand wide for a break point. But then Nadal comes up with an equally amazing forehand when Federer tries to hit behind Nadal one too many times: deuce.
Nadal then easily serves out the game, 1-1, fourth set. It is here that I think Nadal will try to take the match from Nadal.

Federer misses a forehand, 0-15. Nadal returns the favor, 15-15. Federer misses yet another forehand 15-30. Nadal gets Federer's drop shot, 15-40. Federer clubs a forehand after a serve out wide, 30-40. Nadal is 10 feet behind the baseline... Federer misses a forehand - game, break of serve and probably match Nadal: 2-1 Nadal.

From here on out all that separates Raffa from another French Open championship is holding his serve. and now that he feels he can run down pretty much anything that Federer hits, he should feel pretty good about his chances. when Federer lost the first set after squandering 10 break points, the writing was on the wall. Federer misses an easy backhand return and it's 3-1 Nadal.

Federer hits two aces to propel himself to a service hold: 3-2, Nadal. Just as quickly Nadal holds for a 4-2 lead. I'm sure he'll try to break Federer again so that he can serve out the match. Federer does hold, though, forcing Nadal to still win two games to win the match.