Will Madrid be turning point for Federer?

Roger Federer finally got some wind behind his sails and floated free of the shoals of self-doubt and a self-protective embrace of disappointment. We all know just how much that Roland Garros title means in the big picture; the French Open championship match could have a more profound impact on tennis history than any other major final. Federer has introduced a big question mark in the Roland Garros narrative, and revived the idea that he may yet win the clay-court major. If Federer wins at Roland Garros -- whether his final-round victim is Nadal or someone else -- Madrid will stand as the turning point.


The plot certainly thickened. Nadal not only enters Roland Garros on a losing streak but he also came within a point of losing to Novak Djokovic. Nevertheless, surely Federer and, to a lesser extent, Djokovic picked up considerable momentum. Who nad thought Federer's first title of 2009 would come against Nadal on clay. Novak is Nadal's half, who gave tough competition, 3 sets took almost 4 hours. Never mind Nadal's contention that the surface bears little resemblance to Paris. We're talking about one sloppy match here.

Nadal still remains the clear favorite to win still another French Open, but we should be more inclined to bet the field (the other 127 entrants). Players at least have some material evidence that he's vulnerable.

Federer Finds Hope As He Hands Rafael A Defeat On Clay

Roger Federer defeat his great rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday when he stunned the world number one 6-4, 6-4 in the Madrid Open final to win his first title of the season.

Nadal was bidding to become the first man to win all three clay court Masters events in one year after his victories in Monte Carlo and Rome but slipped to only his fifth loss on his favoured surface in 155 matches since 2005.

Federer has lost to Nadal in the final of the French Open the past three years and his victory on Sunday will boost the Swiss world number two's hopes he can win a 14th grand slam singles title at Roland Garros starting later this month.

Federer had to fend off break points in the second and sixth games of the first set but then grabbed a crucial break in game nine before serving out the set to love.

A delicate drop shot that even the athletic Spaniard could not chase down gave him another opportunity in the fifth game of the second set and Nadal netted a backhand to fall 3-2 behind.

The Swiss slipped to 15-40 when serving for the match but fought back to deuce and powered an ace down the middle on his second championship point before raising his arms in triumph.

"I thought I took all the right decisions today and in the end it looked pretty comfortable so it was a perfect win for me, I'm very, very happy that I stayed positive and I got the win I needed badly because I've had some rather bad losses this year," he added. "It's very satisfying." Federer told a news conference.


This was Federer's first title of the year, his 58th in all, and his 15th Masters, putting him level again with Nadal.

Madrid Open: Nadal and Federer meet again to decide Madrid Crown

Novak Djokovic was left searching for answers after this toughest loss to Rafael Nadal. Nadal saved three match points to complete a 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(9) comeback win over Djokovic to reach the Madrid Open final on Saturday.

“I had problems in the first set and some of the second. It was difficult for me to play at 100 percent. I had trouble pushing off,” said the top seed need his right leg to be heavily strapped just above the knee in the second set.

“In some points of the match I played even above my limits. And that was especially in the match points I had,” a red-eyed Djokovic said the four hour, three minute match. “It’s frustrating when you played so well and you can’t win. A couple of points decided the winner. So I’m very disappointer that I can play this well and still not win a match. The positives are I’m one point away from the victory.”



Djokovic showed he meant business after his recent losses to Nadal, earning the first break of the match in the second game off a double-fault. The Serbian third seed kept up the attack on the world number one, reaching 4-1 on his way to the early lead.

Federer smooth win 6-3, 6-4 over Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, which finished in less time than one of Nadal and Djokovic match set.




Nadal stands a formidable 13-6 over Federer, winning five of their last six meetings including the Grand Slam finals in Paris, Wimbledon and Melbourne.

“Playing Nadal anywhere is a challenge, especially on clay. The extra factor here is that this is in Spain,” said the Swiss.

Madrid Open: Nadal to face Djokovic, Murray crashes out

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will meet for the third time at Madrid Open on Saturday. World number one Nadal surprisingly trailed 0-4 in the second set against Spanish rival Fernando Verdasco, the seventh seed, but king of clay stormed back for a 6-4, 7-5 win in a shade under 2 hours.

Third seed Djokovic, fighting to claw back his number 3 ranking from Scot Andy Murray, will face Nadal. The Serbian reached his fourth consecutive Masters semi-final with a 6-4,6-4 win over Croatian wild card Ivan Ljubicic.

“I thought at the moment (when he trailed 0-4) that I had to plat a bit better and get more confidence for a possible third set,” said Nadal. “I played really bad at that moment.” Nadal said he was happy to have avoided a third set.

Del Potro, who had lost all three of his previous meetings with Murray, came back from 2-5 in the first set to claim victory on a fourth match point in the ninth game of the second. Murray’s hope of celebrating his 22nd birthday with a victory were dashed by fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro who beat Andy 7-6(7/4), 6-3 in a late-night match.

Madrid Open: Federer and Djokovic reaches semifinal

Roger Federer dominance over Andy Roddick continued at Madrid Open 7-5, 6-7(5/7), 6-1. It was their first meeting on clay. Roger improved his record to 18-2 against sixth-ranked Roddick. Roddick saved three match points before sending return long on a Federer second serve to hand victory to Swiss star. Roger will face either Andy Murry or Juan Martin Del Porto in semi-finals.

Federer mixed up his game very beautifully in the first set before leading 1-0 with a drop shot. Roddick broke in the second game with 2-0 before Roger broke back and held for 2-2. ‘I thought it was a good match’, said Federer.

Ljubicic was unable to continue that form today though as he clumped to a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against third seed Djokovic.

Madrid Open: Federer and Djokovic reaches semifinal

Roger Federer dominance over Andy Roddick continued at Madrid Open 7-5, 6-7(5/7), 6-1. It was their first meeting on clay. Roger improved his record to 18-2 against sixth-ranked Roddick. Roddick saved three match points before sending return long on a Federer second serve to hand victory to Swiss star. Roger will face either Andy Murry or Juan Martin Del Porto in semi-finals.

Federer mixed up his game very beautifully in the first set before leading 1-0 with a drop shot. Roddick broke in the second game with 2-0 before Roger broke back and held for 2-2. ‘I thought it was a good match’, said Federer.

Ljubicic was unable to continue that form today though as he clumped to a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against third seed Djokovic.

Madrid Open: Federer in Quarters, Nadal gets walkover

World number 1 Rafael Nadal got an easy walkover against Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced out of left leg injury. While No.2 Roger Federer scored 6-2 and 6-4 win over James Blake and moved to quarters of the Madrid open tennis tournament.Also in last eight were Andy Murry, won against Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, and Novak Djokovic, who advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 over Andreas Seppi. And sixth seeded Andy Roddick also got walkover against Nikolay Davydenko withdrew because of left leg injury. Fernando Verdasco defeated Juan Monaco of Argentina 7-5, 6-2. Ivan Ljubicic won against Gilles Simon 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Weather and injury is dominating Madrid Open.“A lot of tennis in the body is sometimes not the best thing but unfortunately in tennis, it happens that we have injuries,” said the Swiss, who next faces Roddick.