Federer beats Nadal in Madrid final

It's amazing to think that this is big news given that it's No. 1 vs. No. 2, but in this rivalry, with the way it was going, it is. Plus, it's the first tourney Fed has won all year.

Still, I'll put everything I own on Nadal in Paris in two weeks.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-madridopen&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

Never mind the Madrid results -- did anyone else catch the Wimbledon Centre Court rededication on ESPN Classic this morning? All I saw was about 15 cents of a blonde soprano in a really low-cut dress singing Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do" in some other language. What a train wreck.

 

Hopefully this will add some intrigue to the French.

I got the feeling after Wimbledon last year Federer was starting to get the mindset of 'What do I have to do to beat this guy?' This can be nothing but good for the game.

 

Did anybody see SL Price's story on Nadal-Fed in last week's SI? Good stuff.

 

Just read it, agree completely.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/sl_price/05/14/federer.nadal/index.html

 

Thanks for the link, GB--I hadn't realized that it was online.

 

Nadal's probably off the board in Vegas regarding winning at Roland Garros. He's such a dominant force on clay, it won't be close. But when he and Roger get to the fortnight, it's gonna be on.

 

Nadal said the stuff in Madrid was very different from the regular clay. Still, surprising since this was in Nadal's home turf. Plus it was best of 3, not 5. Actually surprising only best of 3 given that it was a Masters Series event.

Nice to see Federer get something back but I doubt this means much for the other majors left in the year. Small events rarely indicate what is going to happen at the majors.

 

Does that include your impressive collection of sweater vests?

 

They're fleece vests, not sweater vests. I'm wearing one today, in fact, since a weird cold spell has come to town.

And yes, I'd put the vests up, too.

 

Big article on Federer-Nadal in the current SI.

 

We've heard, like five posts above you.