This one is a toughie, as Rafael and Roger have been good in Paris. Nadal has nine. Federer only one, but has been second to Nadal in 2006, 2007, 2008, and again in 2011. He lost to Nadal in the semis of '05. Another French Open Champion that beat him was Gustavo Kuerten in 2004, in the third round. Federer had made the quarters in 2001, one month before beating Pete Sampras in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Nadal announced his presence in 2005, as he charged through the field, won the title, and seemed destined to keep it forever, to be honest with you. His wins the next three years confirmed that. Nadal got through the first three rounds of the 2009 French Open with little difficulty (Routing Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in the round of 32). In the fourth round, he faced Robin Soderling. Rob had been having quite a tournament, so far. He'd upset David Ferrer in the third round, but now his luck had run out, surely.
It didn't!
Robin went out and took care of Nadal in a four-setter. Rafael had lost at his favourite event. Soderling was not done, however. He beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to make the final four. Then, he scored a five-set win over Fernando Gonzalez.
Roger Federer, meanwhile, had survived a pair of tough five-setters to Tommy Haas in the fourth round and Juan Martin del Potro in the semis. It was down to Federer and Soderling for the 2009 French Open. Federer was not, however, about to miss out on his chance to complete the career grand slam. He beat Soderling in straigh sets.
Soderling was back the next year, however. Federer won the 2010 Australian Open for good measure, and had a streak on the line. He'd reached the semi-finals or better of every grand slam he'd entered since that fateful loss to Kuerten in 2004. But in the quarters, it was time for Soderling's revenge. It took him four sets to do it. And in the semis, Rob needed five more to beat Tomas Berdych, who'd led 2-1 before dropping the last two stanzas.
Nadal took his own personal revenge however, in the finals. The next man to look prominent to beat both Nadal and Federer actually looked poised to do in the same French Open. The very next year saw the emergence of Novak Djokovic. Novak was on fire in 2011. He'd fashioned a fine 38-match winning streak coming in. He'd beaten Federer and Nadal every time he'd faced them in 2011. Why should this by any different. Wins over del Potro in the third round in four and Richard Gasquet in straights the next round had him primed. A walk-over put him in the final four. Federer has extracted some of his fine tennis from his elixir with a straight-set win in an all-Swiss affair over Stan Wawrinka in the round of 16 and another three-set win over Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals. Nadal beat Soderling again in straight-sets in the quarters. A straight-set win in the semis against Andy Murray had him ready for another French Open title. But he'd not have to face Djokovic. Federer took him out in four, and then gave Nadal all he could handle in the first three sets before losing in four.
Djokovic beat Federer in the same round the next year, 2012.
He'd finally made his first French finals, but lost to Nadal in the finals. Losses to Nadal again the next two years seemed to imply their was a jinx. Djokovic could beat Nadal everywhere, all surfaces, except for at Paris. But his moment came in the quarters on 2015, as he upended Nadal in straights, no less. The jinx was finally broken!
Novak went on to beat Murray in a gem of the five-setter in the semis. But his bid for the career grand slam ended in a four-set loss to Wawrinka in the finals, also in four.
Djokovic, of course, will continue to grind away for that career grand slam. He's at nine slams as is, but would love to add the French in 2016. Soderling, troubled by a serious case of mono, had to withdraw from competition not long after his loss to Nadal here in 2011. But he is optimistic about a return in 2016. Can you imagine a scenario of Robin facing Novak at the next year's French? (They've never met at Paris. It's 6-1 Novak, head-to-head) A delicious taste of tennis irony!
References
Collins, Bud. The Bud Collins History Of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia And Record Book. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: New Chapter, 2010. Print.
“Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis | ATP World Tour | Tennis.” ATP World Tour, Ifosys, <www.atpworldtour.com/>. Web. 18 Jul. 2015.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Web. 18 Jul. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org>.
Nadal announced his presence in 2005, as he charged through the field, won the title, and seemed destined to keep it forever, to be honest with you. His wins the next three years confirmed that. Nadal got through the first three rounds of the 2009 French Open with little difficulty (Routing Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in the round of 32). In the fourth round, he faced Robin Soderling. Rob had been having quite a tournament, so far. He'd upset David Ferrer in the third round, but now his luck had run out, surely.
It didn't!
Robin went out and took care of Nadal in a four-setter. Rafael had lost at his favourite event. Soderling was not done, however. He beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to make the final four. Then, he scored a five-set win over Fernando Gonzalez.
Roger Federer, meanwhile, had survived a pair of tough five-setters to Tommy Haas in the fourth round and Juan Martin del Potro in the semis. It was down to Federer and Soderling for the 2009 French Open. Federer was not, however, about to miss out on his chance to complete the career grand slam. He beat Soderling in straigh sets.
Soderling was back the next year, however. Federer won the 2010 Australian Open for good measure, and had a streak on the line. He'd reached the semi-finals or better of every grand slam he'd entered since that fateful loss to Kuerten in 2004. But in the quarters, it was time for Soderling's revenge. It took him four sets to do it. And in the semis, Rob needed five more to beat Tomas Berdych, who'd led 2-1 before dropping the last two stanzas.
Nadal took his own personal revenge however, in the finals. The next man to look prominent to beat both Nadal and Federer actually looked poised to do in the same French Open. The very next year saw the emergence of Novak Djokovic. Novak was on fire in 2011. He'd fashioned a fine 38-match winning streak coming in. He'd beaten Federer and Nadal every time he'd faced them in 2011. Why should this by any different. Wins over del Potro in the third round in four and Richard Gasquet in straights the next round had him primed. A walk-over put him in the final four. Federer has extracted some of his fine tennis from his elixir with a straight-set win in an all-Swiss affair over Stan Wawrinka in the round of 16 and another three-set win over Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals. Nadal beat Soderling again in straight-sets in the quarters. A straight-set win in the semis against Andy Murray had him ready for another French Open title. But he'd not have to face Djokovic. Federer took him out in four, and then gave Nadal all he could handle in the first three sets before losing in four.
Djokovic beat Federer in the same round the next year, 2012.
He'd finally made his first French finals, but lost to Nadal in the finals. Losses to Nadal again the next two years seemed to imply their was a jinx. Djokovic could beat Nadal everywhere, all surfaces, except for at Paris. But his moment came in the quarters on 2015, as he upended Nadal in straights, no less. The jinx was finally broken!
Novak went on to beat Murray in a gem of the five-setter in the semis. But his bid for the career grand slam ended in a four-set loss to Wawrinka in the finals, also in four.
Djokovic, of course, will continue to grind away for that career grand slam. He's at nine slams as is, but would love to add the French in 2016. Soderling, troubled by a serious case of mono, had to withdraw from competition not long after his loss to Nadal here in 2011. But he is optimistic about a return in 2016. Can you imagine a scenario of Robin facing Novak at the next year's French? (They've never met at Paris. It's 6-1 Novak, head-to-head) A delicious taste of tennis irony!
References
Collins, Bud. The Bud Collins History Of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia And Record Book. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: New Chapter, 2010. Print.
“Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis | ATP World Tour | Tennis.” ATP World Tour, Ifosys, <www.atpworldtour.com/>. Web. 18 Jul. 2015.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Web. 18 Jul. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org>.
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