And the Stage is Set Yet Again

Well, I've been away for a while. You might have noticed. But I'm back, at least temporarily. You could say that this post is a snarky finger pointed at my good friend, Sir rLog.

Nevertheless, the stage is set yet again. For the third straight year, Roger Federer will face Rafael Nadal for the French Open title. Yet again, Nadal enters the final looking verily unbeatable on the clay. And once again, Roger Federer has a chance at history.

Federer still lacks the French Open crown from his otherwise stellar resume, having lost to Nadal in last year's final 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Though Federer has been slumping and is not in contention for the grand slam this year (having lost in the semifinals in Australia), he remains the world's best all around player. The reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open Champion, Federer is once again contending for the one title that has kept him from indelibly writing his name in register of tennis immortality as the "best player to ever play the game".

But he'll have to beat Rafael Nadal to do it. Rafa, the three time French Open Champion, has never lost lost a match on the venerable terre battue of Roland Garros. Moreover, he has steamrolled the competition on his way to this year's final, never surrendering so much as a set. Having lost only one match on clay since April 2005, many now consider Nadal the greatest clay courter ever.

However, that one loss is Federer's ray of hope. Last year in Hamburg, Federer managed to finally beat Nadal on clay. Still, Nadal was uncharacteristically not at his best in that match, nor was it a grand slam final. There is little doubt that Nadal will be in exceptional form tomorrow, and Federer has looked vunerable of late. Barring an injury to Nadal in the future, this may well be Federer's best remaining chance to win the French.

If Federer can somehow manage to beat Nadal on Sunday, he will most deservedly be hailed by many as the "best player ever". All he has to do is slay the dragon.