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No mas once was used to describe a super welterweight championship rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. It definitely applied to Rafael Nadal’s latest French Open win at Roland Garros where earlier today he not only defeated world No.1 Roger Federer but dismantled the classy 12-time grand slam champion.

Just how thorough was the 22 year-old Spaniard’s domination in becoming the first man since tennis legend Bjorn Borg to win four in a row on the red clay? Against one of the best players the sport has to offer, the No.2 ranked Nadal dropped only four total games easily defeating Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 before a stunned Philippe Chatrier crowd in Paris.

Quite frankly, this was one of the best performances you’ll ever see by a tennis player in a championship. To hand the 26 year-old Swiss No.1 arguably his worst defeat with so much at stake was stunning to say the least. For a third straight year, Federer was attempting to become the sixth male tennis player to complete the career grand slam by adding the French Open title to his distinguished repertoire. On this day however, it wasn’t to be as he couldn’t muster much against tennis’ most dominant clay court performer.

Unlike the last two finals they played there in which Federer got a set off Nadal before dropping the final couple to fall in four sets, he couldn’t make it competitive despite some strong support from a pro-Roger crowd who wanted so badly to see the popular player make history. Instead, what they got for their money was a virtuoso performance by the No.2 ranked player in the world who matched Borg by four-peating improving to a remarkable 28-0 at Roland Garros.

In  fact, his huge victory ranked as one of the most lopsided French Open finals in history bringing back visions of Borg taking apart Guillermo Vilas. Rafa also became the first men’s champion to not drop a set since the aforementioned Swede did it back in 1980.

Much like he was on hand at The Championships to present Federer a fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown, Borg was on hand to personally congratulate Nadal for matching another one of his records making it the first time he was back on that court in 27 years.

Of course, it was extremely disappointing that such an anticipated rematch turned into a rout. Federer just wasn’t sharp getting broken right away in the opening game by a determined Nadal who amazingly broke two more times to easily take the opening set dropping just a game.

When he continued to control play with top heavy groundstrokes from both sides of the racket forcing Federer to do much more running than normally, it looked like the rout was on at 2-0 in the second set making it eight of the first nine games. But just when the top seed looked out of it, he picked up his game finally finding the lines to hold and break back for two all.

Following a rare narrow escape for Nadal during a service game, Federer again held for three apiece and then applied the pressure looking to go up a break in the set. However, like great champions often do, the world No.2 fought off a couple of break points to hold for 4-3. It took some steam out of his opponent who in the very next game dropped four points in a row from 30-Love up when Nadal scooped up a backhand down the line winner to take a 5-3 lead.

The feisty Spaniard didn’t have any trouble serving it out for a two set lead. From there, a mistake prone Federer couldn’t find the range suffering a rare bagel when a forehand went long to give Nadal a fourth straight French Open title.

Just how special was his performance against his best rival? He won the last nine games. Something almost unheard of against such a great champion.

Clearly, Nadal was in a rare zone. According to stat tracker, he committed just seven unforced errors to Federer’s 35. He also slugged 15 more winners (Nadal-46, Federer-31) and broke one of the game’s best servers a ridiculous eight times in 17 opportunities.

Federer, who usually is very stingy on serve won 49 percent of his first serve and just 21 percent on second serve (5 of 24). It’s rare that you see him so bewildered but that was exactly the case Sunday as he couldn’t find an answer against an unreal opponent.

Nadal’s triumph was so thorough that he didn’t even celebrate opting to just run to net and shake Federer’s hand out of proper respect.

Even stranger was that Federer didn’t pass on a live TV interview on court following his toughest loss with NBC’s John McEnroe instead exhibiting such class under difficult circumstances giving all the credit to his opponent. When McEnroe told Nadal he was the best player he’d ever seen on clay, the modest Spaniard deflected attention opting to say that Borg was still better having won six French Opens- two more than he has.

It could be just a matter of time though given how well he’s playing on that surface. Will anyone ever get the better of him?

This was about as disheartening a men’s tennis slam final as I can recall. Federer’s body language wasn’t good throughout. Even when he elevated his level, you never got the sense that he felt he could win and make history. Perhaps that’s how intimidating Nadal’s become on clay. He plays amazing defense going from D to offense better than anyone on that surface hitting sliding winners which defy logic.

Borg said if he played Nadal, he would be more patient. You wonder how a match between tennis’ two greatest clay courters would go. Maybe in a simulated match cause that’s not happening anytime soon.

The bigger question is can Nadal finally conquer Federer on grass at Wimbledon after losing in two competitive finals including a classic five setter last year? Borg indicated that he thinks the No.2 ranked player will win the tournament this time around which still would be an upset considering how special Federer is on his best surface. He’s every bit as special as Nadal on grass as Rafa is on the red surface.

Figure the top two players to get stiff competition from No.3 Novak Djokovic and big serving American Andy Roddick.

It all starts a couple of weeks from now.

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Here we go again. Roger Federer has a third shot at Rafael Nadal to complete the career grand slam in today’s men’s French Open final at Roland Garros in Paris.

So, can the 26 year-old 12-time slam winner finally get the better of the three-time defending 22 year-old Spaniard on the clay? We’ll know later on when the best tennis rivalry is renewed when No.1 takes on No.2 for all the marbles.

For the Swiss world No.1, Nadal has been his toughest foe keeping him from becoming the sixth man to win all four majors. The past couple of years, Roger only got a set off Rafa losing in four both instances. What was discouraging though the second time around is that he really was never in the match as the powerful Spaniard dominated play to win on the red surface for a third straight time.

With Nadal aiming for a bit of history of his own attempting to four-peat in Paris for the first time since tennis legend Bjorn Borg, he has been in unbelievable form dominating opponents more than ever not dropping a set entering another final at Philippe Chatrier. In fact, before his semifinal straight set win over No.3 ranked Serb Novak Djokovic, he had dropped only 25 total games.

Even with a rematch from a year ago and the No.2 world ranking on the line, Nadal took the play to his 21 year-old opponent who won his first slam in Australia earlier this year. Rafa ousted him 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3). Following the match, Djokovic was disappointed in his performance the first couple of sets. Even though he stepped it up coming back to force a breaker, it wasn’t enough against the champion.

While Nadal has made quick work of his opponents, Federer has had a more methodical approach dropping three sets in three of his victories before pulling them out in four including his quarterfinal unseeded opponent, Frenchman Gael Monfils. They split the first two sets before the No.1 seeded player captured the final couple to prevail 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 advancing to a third consecutive French Open championship date against his No.1 rival.

Federer still trails American legend Pete Sampras by two for the men’s grand slam singles record of 14. He’ll need to be at his absolute pinnacle to get the better of Nadal at a place where he hasn’t lost in 27 matches. That’s right. One more triumph and it will be a remarkable 28-for-28.

Last year at Wimbledon, we saw Roger make history needing five sets before beating Nadal to win a fifth straight time on the grass with Borg also in attendance to see it happen. Now, the former Swede 11-time slam champion will be watching with rooting interest to see if the younger player can match him on the clay at Roland Garros.

It sets up to be another intriguing final with plenty of suspense. Hopefully, the build up will live up to it when they take the court at 9 AM on NBC.

Ivanovic captures first slam: It was a memorable week for Ana Ivanovic. The second seeded 20 year-old Serbian with the good looks not only defeated countrywoman Jelena Jankovic in three close sets taking the final three games to advance to a second consecutive French Open final but she finally delivered by winning her first ever grand slam title defeating Russian Dinara Safina in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 Saturday.

Already having replaced Russian Maria Sharapova as the No.1 ranked female player in the world, Ivanovic still came in with the pressure of having not won a major. She twice had reached finals only to get dismantled by recently retired champ Justine Henin on clay and Sharapova in Melbourne this past January.

However, the third time was the charm for the happy-go-lucky Serb overcoming nerves to post a two set win. She did manage to blow a 4-1 lead in the opening set but recovered claiming the last two games ending the set with a trademark forehand winner down the line. On championship point, a short backhand fell just out of Safina’s reach giving a jubilant Ivanovic her first ever slam.

She certainly is a gifted player who can hit the ball with authority from both sides. So more majors should be coming to a player who once trained back home using an empty swimming pool to tone her skills. Amazing stuff.

Congrats to her on the big win. Now the pressure’s squarely on countrywoman Jankovic to finally deliver a major. Something we picked her to do at the expense of Ivanovic. The lefty fell a little short.

It should setup an intriguing Wimbledon later this month. Amazing to think that’s around the corner.

He still hasn’t won in Roland Garros but that hasn’t stopped world No.1 Roger Federer from reaching another grand slam semifinal. Yesterday in Paris, the Swiss Maestro cameback from a set down to beat Fernando Gonzalez 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in the French Open men’s quarterfinal to setup a semifinal against Frenchman Gael Monfils.

It’s unusual whenever Federer drops a first set. Something he’s done twice during this tournament as he again attempts to complete a career grand slam. However, what can be overlooked is his feistiness and willingness to compete. Rarely will you see Roger fade out of a match which is why it was so shocking that he lost in straight sets to eventual Australian Open champ Novak Djokovic back in January. Though all three were close.

For the 21 year-old Serbian, he’ll try to unseat three-time defending champion and king of clay Rafael Nadal in one semi tomorrow while Federer attempts to advance to a third straight French Open final against surprising Frenchman Monfils, who ousted fifth seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Not only will Nadal’s perfect French Open record be on the line but the No.2 ranking as well when he plays No.3 Djokovic. A year ago, they met and Nadal worked the Serb hard forcing him to retire due to injury. Don’t expect a repeat. It should be a high quality match. Something the just turned 22 year-old Nadal hasn’t come close to seeing destroying opponents including fellow 19th seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 for an early birthday present.

Nadal will be the favorite but it should turn out to be an excellent match. Federer undoubtedly is expected to beat Monfils but the first Frenchman to make the semis in seven years will have the support of his countrymen.

On the women’s side, the Final Four are set with an all-Serbian battle probably for the No.1 ranking at stake when Jelena Jankovic battles Ana Ivanovic later today. The second semi features an all-Russian battle when Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on first time slam semifinalist Dinara Safina.

Safina fought off match points before coming back to stun countrywoman Elena Dementieva 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0. She’s had a great tournament also saving match points against Maria Sharapova before prevailing in three. Can the younger sister of Marat Safin victimize a third straight player from her country to reach the final? We’ll see.

The picks are Jankovic and Kuznetsova. We’ll find out who prevails later today.

The French Open women’s quarters began earlier today in Paris and saw an upset from two years ago take place once again. In an all Russian battle, top seed Maria Sharapova blew a set two break lead falling apart against Dinara Safina to fall 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-2 at Roland Garros.

Two years prior in a Round of 16 meeting, Sharapova had a similar meltdown against the same opponent bowing out on the red surface. This time however, she was whistled at by the partisan French crowd for her notorious screeches which reached feverish pitches as the match slipped away. The 21 year-old lanky Russian didn’t appreciate the treatment failing to acknowledge the crowd as she left the court.

For Safina, the big triumph put the 22 year-old younger sister of Marat Safin in her first ever grand slam semifinal. She’ll meet countrywoman Elena Dementieva for a chance at the final. Dementieva eliminated Russian Vera Zvonareva in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The 26 year-old veteran has been a runner-up for the French Open once falling to Russian Anastasia Myskina four years prior. She’ll aim for her second final at Roland Garros a couple of days from now.