With an unbeaten record and a historic three Masters clay titles leading up to Paris, victory seemed a mere formality for Rafael Nadal at the French Open. Still, with Robin Soderling, the only rival to defeat Nadal at that venue as his finals’ opponent, an interesting twist was added to the plot. Irrespective of the challenger, Nadal demonstrated that he is the master on this surface. The Spaniard triumphed 6-4,6-2,6-4 to claim his fifth “Coupe des Mousquetaries” and recapture the number one ranking.
Soderling commenced the first set with a couple of unfettered games. Then, with a forehand down the line error by Nadal had break point. However, Nadal got to deuce when Soderling’s backhand traveled out of play. With Soderling donating two forehand mistakes, Nadal equalized the set at 2 all. Promptly, when Soderling made another forehand error, Nadal had his initial break point. Despite Soderling dismissing one, Nadal obtained a second and capitalized with a backhand crosscourt pass for winner. Quickly, Nadal consolidated to widen his advantage to 4-2. In the next game, Soderling double faulted on game point resulting in deuce and later gave Nadal two additional opportunities to break. Yet, the Swede maintained his composure to pull off the game and remain one break down. When Nadal himself double faulted, Soderling had break point. But, on a forehand miscue by Soderling, Nadal rubbed out that previous error. A second break point came along after Soderling crushed a second serve return and Nadal was unable to deal with the subsequent shot. Yet, with Soderling gifting another error, Nadal won the point. Thereafter, Nadal secured the game and eventually seized the set 6-4.
After Soderling’s uncomplicated game to open the second set, on an errant forehand by Nadal, the Swede had double break point. With an ace and a botched backhand by Soderling, Nadal reached deuce. Soderling manufactured two more opportunities. Nevertheless, each was snuffed out by Nadal to tie the set at 1. Soderling short memory helped as he held at love right after. Nonetheless, Soderling’s next time out, Nadal connected on a couple of winners for triple break point. When the Swede misfired with the forehand up the line, Nadal broke for 3-2. Later, with a glut of mistakes, Soderling handed Nadal a double break lead. The Spaniard easily closed out the set at 6-2.
Unlike last year, for Soderling, the errors far exceeded the winners. Moreover, the serve, a potent part of Soderling’s game was being neutralized by Nadal’s excellent defense. Conversely, as the match progressed, Nadal cleaned up his game. Following an ace for game point, Soderling committed another error for deuce. With two consecutive forehands flubs by Soderling, Nadal bagged the break to begin the third set. By charging to net, Soderling forced Nadal to place a backhand pass out of play for his eight break point. Yet, by netting the backhand return, Soderling was now 0 for 8 on break points. Eventually, Nadal guarded serve for a 2-0 edge. The next couple of service games, Soderling comfortably held. When the Swede double faulted in the seventh game, Nadal had another break point. Still, Soderling dealt with the pressure and maintained serve for 3-4. But, Soderling was given no further looks at a break point by Nadal. As the mistakes flew off Soderling’s racket, Nadal promptly held the rest of the way to take the championship in straight sets.
The finals of the ATP Champions Tour were contested Tuesday night at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center between Australian Patrick Rafter and American tennis legend John McEnroe. The meeting between the two former majors winners was expected to be a display of serve and volley, both delivered. Rafter prevailed over McEnroe 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-1) in two highly competitive sets. 
Once more, the Florida swing of the ATP initiates with the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. Along with the 250 World tour event which takes place from February 22 thru 28; for the first time, the Champions Tour comes to Delray with play running concurrently from February 20 thru 23.
