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| Paris saw one of the great Grand Slam semi-finals |
Roland Garros 2013: My top 5 matches
Before I say goodbye to the 2013 French Open Championships here is one final post looking back over the best five matches I saw on the dirt at Roland Garros. (There may have been other thrilling encounters on outside courts that I didn't see!)
Honourable Mentions
Gael Monfils' run through to the last 32 was one of the key stories of week two and his matches with Ernests Gulbis and Tommy Robredo were superb contests. Robredo's own comeback journey to the quarter finals was memorable and his fourth round win over Nicolas Almagro just misses the list.
No.5. Quarter final - S.Williams (1) bt S.Kuznetsova (U) 6-1 3-6 6-3
There may have been closer matches but this was a quarter final on the Suzanne Lenglen court packed with drama between major champions past and present. The back story that the Russian beat Williams in the same round, on the same court, four years earlier made it a compelling contest.
After a straightforward opening set Kuznetsova displayed why she had been ranked No.2 and lifted two Grand Slams. The Russian pushed Williams hard and the match was on a knife edge when Sveta led 2-0 with 3 chances for a double break lead in the decider.
The World No.1 crucially fought through at that key moment and won six of the final seven games to come through her only test of the championships.
No.4. 1st round - G.Monfils (WC) bt T.Berdych (5) 7-6(8) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-7(4) 7-5
This opening round encounter provided gripping entertainment on Court Philippe Chatrier and could not have been closer. Monfils had never beaten Berdych before but after edging a very tight first set tie-break he was stronger in the second to take a two set lead.
The fifth seeded Czech did not seem quite himself but nonetheless remained calm to take the next two service dominated sets on breakers.
Berdych had the momentum in the fifth but crucially missed chances to break and it was Monfils who came through after just over four hours.
No.3. 1st round - U.Radwanska (U) bt V.Williams (30) 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4
The younger Radwanska sister and elder Williams sister kept the opening day crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen entertained deep into the evening after a stirring three hours and 20 minutes.
In a match full of service breaks Williams' famous serve was clearly effected by injury but the seven-time major champion battled impressively with her legendary groundstokes and came back from 0-4 in the second set tie-break to level proceedings.
Radwanska however was playing wonderful tennis with a series of stunning lobs and touch shots reminiscent of her sister. Williams hit back from 2-5 in the decider but it was the Pole who closed out a gripping match.
No.2. 3rd round - T.Haas (12) bt J.Isner (19) 7-5 7-6(4) 4-6 6-7(10) 10-8
This third round match on Court 1 will live long in the memory. Between two evenly matches opponents the entire match could not have been closer. It came to a head in the fourth where Isner survived an incredible twelve match points to take the match to a fifth.
With the momentum the giant American broke the German veteran and led 4-1 in the decider. Haas broke back in the seventh game but faced match point at 4-5 which he saved.
Eventually Isner's tiring physical condition proved a crucial factor - he had come through from two sets down against compatriot Ryan Harrison one day earlier - and eventually Haas broke in the seventeenth game and closed out an amazing match.
No.1. Semi-final - R.Nadal (3) bt N.Djokovic (1) 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7
There can be no question that the match of the championships was the most anticipated as great rivals Rafa and Novak fought out one of the greatest ever Grand Slam semi-finals - under the watchful eye of my friend Dave amongst a capacity crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
In one of their best encounters - with so much on the line for both - the match twisted one way and then the other. Leading by a set and a break Rafa looked on course to take a comfortable lead before the Serb rattled off four games to level.
The Rafa raced away through the third and twice led by a break in set four. When the seven-time champion led 30-15 serving for the match at 6-5 he was almost home but Djokovic would not give up and raised his game to level.
With the momentum the Australian Open champion led by an early break at 4-2 in the fifth but crucially lost serve in the eighth game after conceding a point by crashing into the net after a putaway smash.
The deciding games were electrifying as these two great championships fought tooth and nail and each displayed, as expected, the highest level of concentration, determination and focus.
Being Roland Garros it was eventually the Spaniard who made the breakthrough with a comfortable break of the Djokovic serve in the final game. Rafa had survived his biggest test and we had been treated to a magnificent match.
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| Mutual respect between the legends after the thriller |
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