Roger succumbs once again to Rafa! And it hurts!

My first blog -- ever -- and I write bitterly disappointed. Not a good sign of things to come on this page. My man Federer got beaten (again!) last night by Roland Garros defending champion Rafael Nadal at the 2006 French Open. It would have been (as Vijay Armitraj says) "glorious" if Roger had won -- a 4th straight grand slam in a row -- all 4 grand slams in one (not calendar, though) year and miles ahead in the rankings from mortal men. He would have been undefeated in a grand slam final. But alas! My man Roger's backhand let us down. I must admit -- Rafa's smart, after all. Feeding Roger's backhand when it was acting up. Going strong on the topspin, taking advantage of the clay surface's ability to slow and send a ball off its anticipated course. Chasing after e-v-e-r-y ball. Roger was, sadly, outclassed yesterday.

After Roger breezed through the first set without seemingly breaking a sweat (he won the first set at 6-1, after racing to a 5-0 lead), he conceded a baseline call at 0-40 (breakpoint) and eventually lost that game. It was downhill from there. Rafa gave him a strong dose of his own medicine to win the second set at 1-6. Rafa broke Roger's serve early in the third and eventually won the set at 6-4. First game of the 4th and Roger got broken! It was an embarrassment, really. I saw but a glimmer of the magic that convinced me Roger's the best player that ever graced a tennis court. He struggled in his service games. Rafa dictated the pace of the rallies much of the way. A ray of hope on the 10th game of the 4th set when Rafa served for the match -- a precious, much-needed breakpoint won! But he couldn't convert with another break on the 12th and had to play a tiebreak -- I knew, then, the prospects weren't good. Rafa was pumped, man! And he need only consistently punish that errant backhand. Roger got a mini-break on the first point but was broken twice on his own serve at the next turn. End of story ...

Indesit still ranks my boy no. 1. But he's absolutely got to win Wimbledon or his confidence will be shot. My thinking is he's become Clijsters to Rafa's Henin-Hardenne. You know how Kim's game almost always seems to crumple when it's Justine opposite. Must - not - let - it - happen. We've got to cut down this 20-year-old before he runs off with titles off clay!

Roger, you're still my main man, of course. And I hope to see you "glorious" once again on the grass...