Is The French Open Going To Be Boring this year?

I have to ask is the French Open going to be a complete bore this year? Should we just hand Rafael Nadal the men’s trophy? I am so sick and tired of Rafael Nadal winning the French Open? Did you know this decade the Spanish men have dominated the clay courts? Already this decade Spanish men have won the French Open five times. You have to wonder is this the French Open or the Spanish Open? I am so tired of the Spaniards dictating on the clay. Gustavo Kuerten from Brazil managed to win the French Open twice in 2000 and 2001 for Brazil. Also, Gaston Gaudio from Argentina won the men’s French Open title in 2004. Where is Gaudio now?

For the past three years Justine Henin and Rafael Nadal have won the French Open and to be honest the French Open hasn’t been interesting for a long time. The only sure thing is on the women’s side there will be a new champion. The clay court surface is a tough surface to play on because if it is hot the courts are fast like a hard court but it is damp and cloudy the courts can be heavy and slow. Also, clay courts are the only surface that matches can be played on if it is raining.

Some people hate the French Open because this is the grand slam with the most one slam wonders. The French Open doesn’t have the prestige of Wimbledon or the excitement of the US OPEN. Also, the French crowds can be absolutely obnoxious some of the French fans will even hiss and boo their own players!

Yes Rafael Nadal is sexy he’s got big muscles and all that but he also has no competition on the clay courts. Nadal just blasts the competition and most of the men don’t believe they can beat him. Rafael Nadal appears to me to be invincible on clay. Rafael did lose to Juan Carlos Ferraro in the second round of the Italian Open this year in straight sets though.

It is obvious Roger Federer has the game to defeat Nadal on the clay yet Roger always chokes. I don’t know if I can handle watching another Roger and Rafael match up because Rafael has an 8-1 winning record against Roger on clay. I cannot believe last week in the finals of Hamburg Roger had a 5-1 lead in the first set and a 5-2 in the second set against Nadal in Hamburg last week yet lost the match! I love Roger Federer but I am really worried about these mental collapses.

I think perhaps David Nalbandian or Juan Carlos Ferraro are the only players that can beat Nadal. Nalbandian has an incredible two handed backhand he can create a lot of angles with the ball. Nadal beats Roger because he consistently breaks down Roger’s one handed backhand. Nalbandian has a two handed backhand and he can withstand the powerful topspin forehands of Nadal.

Also, Nalbandian has the speed, stamina, and the game to really hurt Rafael Nadal. The question is does Nalbandian have the mind to win? Nalbandian is a serious talent but he has failed to win a grand slam and live up to his potential.

Juan Carlos Ferraro and David Nalbandian are inconsistent. Also, Nadal always seems to get a very easy draw at the French Open as well.

I wonder, should I bother watching the men’s French Open or just focus on the WTA? It seems to me with Justine Henin out of the way Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and the Serbs Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic are the clear favorites along with Svetlana Kuznetsova. Svetlana reached the French Open women’s final two years ago only to lose to Justine Henin. Justine Henin was a road block for the rest of the WTA Tour so that she has “retired” the road is clear.

I don’t think the other women will really “care” that Henin has retired to be honest. Yes some people will say that the field is weaker on the women’s side because Justine Henin has “retired”. However, every single woman on the WTA tour now knows she has a better shot at actually winning the French Open because Justine is gone. It is sad though that the most dominant female clay court tennis player this decade has decided to quit.

I think Jelena Jankovic has an excellent chance to win her first slam she moves very well, she is extremely quick, has amazing defensive skills. Maria Sharapova has improved tremendously on clay but I still believe there are some clay courters on the WTA tour that can beat her. Serena Williams has already won the French Open but I was shocked she lost to Dinara Safina in Berlin a few weeks ago.

Svetlana Kuznetsova is a tremendous talent but she always loses in the semifinals or finals! Yes it is true Svetlana has a losing record in WTA tour finals and this is her Achilles Heel. Svetlana can get to the finals but she tends to lose. Can Svetlana reverse the trend well we will have to see? Venus Williams I don’t know about her clay is Venus worst surface. The truth about Venus Williams is you just don’t know she can lose first round or win the entire event.