News / Sports
Raphael Nadal Tops Roger Federer for Third Straight French Open Title
Raphael Nadal topped Roger Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win his third straight French Open title and improve his career mark at Roland Garros to 21-0.
Nadal’s three straight French Open titles now put him in company with tennis legend Bjorn Borg who won four straight French Open titles from 1978-81 as the only men to win three straight since 1914.
The victory was also a bit of revenge for Nadal who lost to Federer on the clay courts at the Hamburg Classic last month.
Nadal was near perfect on his service game throughout the match dropping just once while breaking the Swiss four times. With command of his service game Nadal could concentrate on countering Federer’s shots and he did so with near perfection.
Federer struggled with his consistency all day, tallying 59 unforced errors compared to the 27 for Nadal, the world’s number one player failed to string together strong games despite opportunities.
The loss means one more year for Federer to think about the lone Grand Slam event that he is yet to capture. Federer had entered the French Open finals looking to capture not only his fourth consecutive major title but cap a career Grand Slam. Once again he fell short on the clay court.
It is now on to Wimbledon for Federer where he will try to join Bjorn Borg as the only two men to win five straight at the All England Lawn and Tennis club since 1906.
