French Open 2011

I'm following the French Open. It sure is getting exciting. One of my fave tennis players, Marion Bartoli, won the quarterfinals today. She is up for the semifinals round with the defending champion, Francesca Schiavone.

For the other women in the match, I also like Azarenka and Petkovich. I wouldn't mind Maria Sharapova winning the match, either. It's high time she wins another championship and a French Open trophy for that would lead to a career grand slam. It would set her up above the rest. And this is the right time for her to win--with not a lot of great competition out there.

I hope Rafael Nadal wins in the quarterfinals tomorrow with Robin Soderling. It would be a great match, difficult to watch. Nadal hasn't been playing well. Soderling has always been a tough opponent and had been a finalist in the French Open for two consecutive years.

I hope everything turns out well.

Federer's First French Open Title

I'm happy for Roger Federer that he finally won a French Open title. In an interview with Jon McEnroe shortly after the championship ceremony, he said he deserves it.

It's really a crowning glory for him -- it's his 14th grand slam and he's now tie with Pete Sampras. He also is now the best tennis player ever lived because he has a career grand slam.

What I like about Federer besides his being a super tennis player is his devotion to his girlfriend. I heard from a commentator before, someone who used to be in the ATP tour himself, that they had never been apart since they met. And yesterday, I learned from Federer's speech that she is now his wife and she is pregnant.

I noticed the commentators mentioning Rafael Nadal so many times during and after the match or the whole broadcast itself. Actually, Nadal is always part of the conversation during the whole French Open. It's like was eliminated earlier on but he is still very much a part of the tournament.

Nadal is still the clay court king so to speak. And the world No. 1. In the last three grand slams that Federer played with Nadal - Fench Open 2008, Wimbledon 2008, and Australian Open 2009 - Federer lost. Nadal is still Federer's toughest opponent. As it is, Federer is only able to win a grand slam if it's not Nadal that he is playing with.

But I'm really glad that Federer won the French Open. And yes, I agree with him that he deserves it. I think destiny handed it to him.

Second Week of French Open

So this is the second week of French Open. New faces, some comeback, some upsets, some exciting games. Roger Federer almost lost to Haas in the round of 16. But the true marks of a champion shined through - with two sets down, he won the next three sets.

Nadal's Loss is Gain for Federer

It saddens me to learn about Rafael Nadal's loss. It was not aired on ESPN as it happened on a Sunday. The thing is, Nadal is supposed to win the French Open -- he is the best clay court player ever and the only one in the way of Federer winning a French Open. This opens up the opportunity for Federer to have a career grand slam and if he did, then this is the way fate has made a way for him to do so. After all, Federer is the greatest tennis player who ever lived.

Sharapova's Outfit

Now, I would like to comment on Maria Sharapova who is making a comeback after ten months of therapy for her shoulder. She looks really nice. She is on her quarterfinals after hard won victories over the first four matches.

Sharapova's outfit is the best outfit I've seen in the French Open. She does not have to bother with it, not pulling on it, or putting back it back in place after some intense court action. It just falls naturally and moves with her. The style is like a dress and perfectly cut and fitted; it also does not show too much skin. Sharapova is used to tucking a ball underneath and even the ball does not bulge on her hips. Sweat don't show as well. I would say Nike has engineered a very efficient and classy outfit for Sharapova.

Dinara Safina

Last year, I watched Dinara Safina beat Maria Sharapova in three sets in the round of 16. I would say that on that day, I became Dinara Safina's fan. I wrote a few posts about her in this blog the past year. Well, she is the No. 1 female tennis player today (has been for five weeks) and I could not be more proud of her. As I wrote here earlier, she would be No. 1 and she did. I hope this French Open would be her first grand slam victory (she lost in the 2008 finals against Ana Ivanovic).

She did it!

Ana Ivanovic is the new world No. 1 and the reigning French Open champion for 2008. I cannot say anything more than wishing her the best this year and more power to her.

And of course, congratulations to the 4-time French Open Champion, Rafael Nadal. Vamos Rafa!

French Open

This weekend is the championship for the women and men's tennis in the French Open. I'm excited to watch who would win. And of course, I have my favorites.

On the women side, it is Dinara Safina. She just became my new hero when I watched her play with the No. 1 seed in the world, Maria Sharapova. Too bad, by Monday, she is no longer the No. 1 because Ana Ivanovic would be the No. 1. But of course, the placement or the ranking kind of messed up when the real No. 1, Justine Henin retired two weeks before the French Open.

Watching Safina play, I saw the blood in her eyes. She just fought until the end and her spirits did not crumble despite a match point service. She did it again with Dementieva in the quaterfinals. I believe she could win the French Open. It is not a question of ability or talent, but of willpower. And I believe she got it ten times more than Ivanovic.

On the men side, I'm for the No. 2 seed, Rafael Nadal. The undefeated champion and the best tennis player in the clay surface. He is seeking to win his fourth French Open Championship. But of course, it may be Roger Federer -- the No. 1 seed who is still short of a French Open for a career grand slam.

It would be nice watching tennis history on Sunday.