Rafael Nadal destroyed Roger Federer's historic Grand Slam dream for another year by capturing his third successive French Open on Sunday.
The Spaniard's 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory emulated the great Bjorn Borg's record of three Roland Garros titles in a row.
It also shattered Federer's hopes of capturing a first French Open and becoming only the third man to hold all four Grand Slam crowns at the same time.
PHOTO: AFP
The win also preserved the 21-year-old Nadal's perfect record of never losing in the tournament in his three visits. He has now won all 21 of his matches including beating the world number one in the final last year.
Despite being the first player to take a set off the champion at the tournament this year, Federer squandered 10 break points in the crucial first set which he lost and 60 unforced errors in the match.
"I feel sorry for Roger," Nadal said. "He is such a good person and a great champion. I'm happy to win here again but I need to keep working to get even better."
PHOTO: AFP
Federer, who has now lost to Nadal three years in a row at Roland Garros, said it had been another tough afternoon.
"It's a shame, but I think I came closer to winning last year. This year I was always behind and it was never easy," Federer said.
"It's not the last time I will play here and I will try all I can to win next year," he said.
Federer sniffed an early chance in the first set but Nadal snuffed out two break points in the fourth game.
Nadal saved five more break points in a marathon sixth game which featured a 21-stroke rally.
The crushing failure to hammer home the advantage weighed heavily on the Swiss as he was immediately broken to love in the next game as Nadal nipped 4-3 in front, a sloppy backhand into the net sealing the top seed's fate.
Federer wasted another golden opportunity in the eighth game.
This time three more break points went begging as Nadal came back from 0-40 to lead 5-3.
The Spaniard went to set point in the ninth game which he converted in style with a screaming winner which left Federer scrambling after 51 minutes on court.
The Swiss wasted another break point, his 11th, in the seventh game of the second set, but he finally broke through to lead when Nadal could only bury a backhand return into the net.
Federer valiantly fought off three break points to establish a 5-3 lead before he then failed to convert four set points on the Nadal serve in the ninth game.
But he levelled the tie by taking the second set 6-4 after a further 55 minutes when Nadal went long with a forehand.
It was the first set the world number two had dropped at this year's tournament.
Nadal broke to lead 2-0 in the third set and defended splendidly from the baseline in the fifth game to go to 4-1.
Federer saved a set point in the eighth game but his opponent claimed the the set 6-3 with another power-packed forehand after nearly two and a half hours of action.
Federer hit a lazy forehand approach into the net in the third game of the fourth set to allow Nadal to go 2-1 up.
A love game allowed Nadal to go 4-2 up which soon became 5-3 as the fight deserted Federer.
Nadal sealed his third title after three hours 10 minutes when Federer hit a weary forehand long.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and