All set for the French toast

The world’s premier claycourt tennis event promises a mouth-watering showdown between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, while Justine Henin is aiming for her third title on the trot, writes Ramandeep Singh

THE most gruelling Grand Slam event of them all, the French Open, begins tomorrow. The claycourt season this year has progressed on familiar lines with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer being in prime form. The Spaniard won titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, while the Swiss ended Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay in the final of the German Open in Hamburg last week.

Both start overwhelming favourites, but Nadal has a slight edge for the simple reason that he is an overall better player on clay, has won more titles on the surface and is the only contemporary player who leads Federer in head-to-head matches.

Federer (left), who is yet to win the French Open, ended Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay; Henin has been in superb form this season. — Photos by AFP

Federer, who recently split from his coach Tony Roche, was in the middle of his worst run — since he went to the top of the rankings more than three years ago — before he won the German Open.

Since winning the Australian Open in January and the Dubai title five weeks later, Federer has suffered four defeats. One in the final at Monte Carlo, where Nadal recorded the most impressive of his seven wins over the world No. 1, but the others have been in the early stages of tournaments and against opponents he would have beaten comfortably, Guillermo Canas (Indian Wells and Miami), and Filippo Volandri at the Italian Open.

But now he seems to have regained his touch and if he wins the French Open title, he will become only the third man after American Don Budge and Australian Rod Laver to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.

Though he was outgunned by Federer in Hamburg, Nadal has perfect command of the claycourt, having been brought up on the surface like most Spanish players. He hits the ball with pinpoint accuracy and power, particularly off the forehand.

He is also a fierce competitor, with stamina and speed to match. Rivals know there is scarcely any point playing a drop shot, as the Spaniard will invariably reach it. If they try to force him wide, he is capable of turning desperate saves into winners, thanks to that raw power again.

The evidence from Hamburg, however, suggests that it is still possible to get Nadal into trouble. Lleyton Hewitt pushed him to the brink in the semifinals and then Federer pushed him over.

But it will be foolish to bet against Nadal not lifting another French Open crown.

Of the others who are likely to upset the Federer-Nadal applecart are world No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia and the rising star, world No. 6 Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Both are in good form and are fully capable of beating anybody on their day.

Then there are the "usual suspects" from Spain, like former champions Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, besides David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo. They all thrive on clay, but their best is behind them and they have been outplayed whenever they have come up against Nadal or Federer.

The dark horse could be Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, who had a scintillating run to the final of the Australian Open before he ran out of steam and ideas against Federer.

Herculean task for Sania

Sania Mirza’s build-up to the French Open has been dreadful as far as singles is concerned. Returning after a two-month injury layoff, she bowed out in the first round in Morocco as well as Istanbul. At Fes, Morocco, the 20-year-old shockingly lost to Argentine qualifier Maria Emilia Salerni. She went on to win the doubles title with Vania King, but it is in singles that her fans want her to regain her form.

Her track record at Roland Garros is unimpressive, which shows that clay is not her favourite surface.

Among the top women contenders, Jelena Jankovic is likely to give Justine Henin a run for her money. The Italian Open title was Jankovic’s third of the year and her second on clay following her victory at the Family Circle Cup in April. She is the next big thing to come out of Serbia after Monica Seles. She has steadily progressed since her quarterfinal-finish at Rome last year.

Lifting the trophy at Roland Garros will be a glorious achievement for a player who thought of quitting the sport after losing 10 straight matches before the start of the Italian Open last year.

World number one Henin will be vying for her fourth French Open title in five years.

The 24-year-old Belgian, who has won three tournaments this year (Dubai, Doha and Warsaw), says she has never felt in better form or health than in the past six months. If she triumphs in Paris, it will be a hat-trick of Roland Garros crowns for her.

Since professional tennis began in 1968, only Seles has notched up three wins in a row at the claycourt Grand Slam (1990, 1991 and 1992).

There is no doubt that 2006 was Henin’s year — during which she won more titles, more matches and more prize money than any of her rivals. She also reached the finals of all four Grand Slam events and finished the season by beating Amelie Mauresmo in November to reclaim the number one spot.

Six months ago, it would have seemed unlikely that Serena Williams would be billed as one of the favourites. But her overwhelming win over Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final changed all that.

Serena again thrashed Sharapova in Miami on her way to winning the Sony Ericsson title. In the final, she lost the first set to Henin 0-6 before storming back to stun the Belgian.

The Russian brigade — Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze, Dinara Safina, Nadia Petrova, Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva — is not in great touch. The Russians have not won anything significant this year but they will always will be a threat. Ana Ivanovic, Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo will be the other pretenders to the crown.