An incredible reign came to an end Sunday in Paris...as four time defending French Open champ Rafael Nadal fell in the fourth round to #23 Robin Soderling in five sets--ending his record 31 match winning streak at Roland Garros and perhaps providing a window of opportunity for second seed Roger Federer as well as #6 Andy Roddick. While the French Open remains the lone gem not in Federer's crown (his best performance being three straight losses in the Finals to Nadal)--Roddick finds himself in the fourth round for the first time in his career...despite being in the loaded half of the bracket (Federer and two other single digit seeds stand between Roddick and the finals).
Roddick is the lone remaining American in the tournament... as once again the U.S. players take a beating in Paris (in a city where Bergmann left Bogart, anything can happen). What is it about the clay court? Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras never even so much as reached a French Open final... while John McEnroe's lone foray into the finals saw him blow a two sets to none lead over Ivan Lendl.
It's hard to imagine that Americans took three of four French Open titles from 1989 to 1992--with Michael Chang's miracle in 1989 jumpstarting a tennis generation and Jim Courier's back to back titles solidified it. Throw into the mix back to back finals appearances by Andre Agassi and add runnerup finishes by Courier in '93 and Chang in '95-- you have a rare U.S. tennis occupation of Paris (keep in mind this came around the time that Greg LeMond was winning Tour de Frances--they must have loved us then).
Since then-virtually nothing. Yes, Andre Agassi won the French Open in 1999--but he did so against an upset-ridden field...as the top five seeds were all eliminated before the fourth round. The only seed Agassi needed to beat en route to the title was the defending Camp--#4 Carlos Moya. And that's the last time an American player reached the finals at Roland Garros.
It all begins with the surface. The clay court produces a high bounce and slows down the ball--negating the "power serve" boasted by the likes of Sampras and Roddick. While Americans grow up on hard courts-- European and South American clay court specialists focus on dominating that surface. And turnabout is fair play; it's been just as difficult for men of clay like two time winner Sergei Brugera and three time champ Gustavo Kuerten to fare well at other grand slam events. Making Rafael Nadal's rare double victory at the French Open and Wimbledon last year even more incredible (Nadal the first to accomplish that feat since Bjorn Borg in 1980).
A handful of college basketball observations--
Memphis Mess--new Kentucky coach John Calipari's left the Tigers just in time... SAT irregularities...recruiting shenanigans...and a possible vacating of a final four berth. Reminds you of the good old days at UMass, doesn't it? Meanwhile, Calipari's off scott-free in Lexington... collecting his paychecks and insulated from direct guilt--just as he's putting together a Wildcat winner. Only I wouldn't be too quick to coronate him. Calipari's been incredibly successful in his career at "tier-two" schools in non-BCS leagues by recruiting "tier-one" talent; many of his UMass recruits could have played at Big East schools...while more than a few of his kids at Memphis could have played anywhere in Division I. But look at the one time he was operating on a somewhat level playing field (although Kentucky has a plethora of advantages, there's actual competition as opposed to C-USA)...Calipari was 72-112 and was fired midway through his third season with New Jersey in the NBA. Lets see how he fares in conference rumbles where the other bullies have weapons, too.
Terrapin West? Maryland womens basketball player Dre Mingo will transfer to Purdue; and word is fellow Terp Marah Strickland may be headed to the Big Ten school as well. If she does become a Boilermaker, Strickland would be the third Terrapin to do so: two years ago, Kalika France after graduation from Maryland left for Purdue as well. I wasn't surprised Mingo left College Park--she'd been getting reduced minutes over the course of the ACC season and wasn't going to play a lot with Dee Liles and Lynetta Kizer manning the post positions next winter.
Strickland's departure was a bit of a stunner--she started virtually the moment she set foot on campus and was only going to be more prominent in the team's plans next season (with Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman both graduating). I liked her offensive aggressiveness and long-armed defensive abilties. Hopefully Strickland will be happy wherever she winds up; had she remained she'd likely have joined the Terps 1000-point career club...and maybe would have seen her number join the others in the rafters at Comcast. Now, wherever she goes--Strickland becomes a hired gun.
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