French Open 2013: Rafa Nadal Proves He's Better than Novak Djokovic on Clay | Bleacher Report French Open 2013: Rafa Nadal Proves He's Better than Novak Djokovic on Clay Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Once again, world No. 4 Rafael Nadal has proven why he is the best on clay. Saturday’s semifinal win moved Nadal into the French Open final and one step closer to another victory at Roland Garros. Neither Nadal nor world No. 1 Novak Djokovic had faced any significant challenges leading up to the semifinals. That was a good thing because they knew they had to bring their A-game. Both men had a goal in mind. Simply put, they wanted to reach the final. A French Open win for Nadal would mean hoisting the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the eighth time. For Djokovic, a French Open win would mean completing a career Grand Slam, while also honoring Jelena Gencic, his former coach, mentor and “ second mother ,” who discovered him at the age of six and who recently passed way.

Only one man would have the chance of reaching the final and potentially seeing his dream come true by winning it. The matchup between these two players has become one of the most anticipated on any surface, but on clay, it's the apex of competition for these two tennis giants, and this match would not disappoint. Nadal won the first and third sets, and it seemed as if he would pull out the win in the fourth, as he served for the match at 5-6. But Djokovic came back, leveled things at 6-6, forcing a tiebreaker, which Djokovic would win, 7-3, sending this marathon match into a fifth set. In the fifth set, it seemed as if Nadal might have some concerns, as Djokovic came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. But Nadal’s determination would not waiver. At 7-8, he got the break, taking the fifth and securing the win, 7-9. The final results were: 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-9. Nadal now awaits the winner of the matchup between world No.

8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and world No. 5 David Ferrer in the other men’s semifinal. The men’s final will take place on Sunday. The Joy of Six: Wimbledon upsets | Sport | The Guardian The Joy of Six The Joy of Six: Wimbledon upsets From Boris Becker feeling both sides of a shock to Ivo Karlovic helping to pave the way for Roger Federer, half a dozen underdog stories from SW19 Martina Hingis, right, congratulates Jelena Dokic on the Australian’s victory in 1999.

Photograph: Gerry Penny/EPA The Joy of Six The Joy of Six: Wimbledon upsets From Boris Becker feeling both sides of a shock to Ivo Karlovic helping to pave the way for Roger Federer, half a dozen underdog stories from SW19 Friday 24 June 2016 05.00 EDT Last modified on Thursday 3 November 2016 20.56 EDT Close 1) Jelena Dokic stuns Martina Hingis in 1999 At an age when most of us are trying to find our place in the world, in between attempts to convince the suspicious off-licence owner that our name really is Brian McGee , Martina Hingis already knew where she belonged. Her journey towards all-time greatness began when she became the French Open junior champion at the age of 12.

Winning the 1995 women’s doubles at Wimbledon when she was 15 years and nine months old made her the youngest grand slam champion in history and she shot to stardom in 1997, winning her first singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, and would have held the calendar slam but for a defeat to Iva Majoli in the final at Roland Garros. For all of Hingis’s dominance in the late 90s though, her dramatic fall from grace was a cautionary tale about how fame and glory can have a negative impact on a young person’s state of mind if they are not capable of handling global fame, a story of too much too soon, and she lost a few friends after describing Amelie Mauresmo, who had just revealed that she was a lesbian, as “half a man” before beating the Frenchwoman in the Australian Open final in 1999. “Perhaps she just said it for a laugh, without thinking, but the next day she wasn’t very clear either in saying that I played like a man,” Mauresmo said.

“It was stupid of her.” There is a fine line between being viewed as adorably precocious and a spoiled brat by the public and Hingis strayed over it during a controversial French Open final against Steffi Graf later that year. Hingis led by a set and a break when she erupted after a forehand return was called long, protesting to the umpire in vain before being docked a point for marching to Graf’s side to point out the mark. Previously so cool and self-assured, all of a sudden she looked like a female version of Harry Enfield’s Kevin Patterson , directing a sarcastic thumbs up at the umpire, smiling about the injustice of it all, informing the world that she had never asked to be born. An underarm serve late in the third set drew whistles from the unforgiving French crowd, who dismissed the tactic as petulant and unsporting, and an emotional Hingis disappeared at the end of the match. She was still sobbing after being guided back on court by her mother, Melanie Molitor, for the presentation ceremony.

“Worse had happened just off court when Hingis, beside herself with the frustration of losing to Graf and missing the one grand slam title she has yet to win, slapped a Women’s Tennis Association official,” Stephen Bierley, the Guardian’s tennis correspondent at the time, wrote . “She was fined £1,000 for her behaviour on court but the WTA appears to have swept the other incident under the carpet of expediency.” Hingis would never win another grand slam singles title. She was still the world No1 when she arrived at Wimbledon yet all was not well in Hingis’s world when she emerged for her first-round match against Jelena Dokic, a 16-year-old qualifier from Australia and the world No129. For the first time in Hingis’s career, her mother was not present for a grand slam match. “We decided to have a little bit of distance,” she said. On HBO, the commentators spotted clear signs of fragility as Hingis was blown away by Dokic. “She had the starch knocked out of her at the French, but that was three weeks ago,” Mary Carillo said.

Hingis looked emotionally spent after the events of Paris and appeared to be fighting back the tears as an astonishingly one-sided contest neared its end. Dokic, hitting her forehand superbly, took 54 minutes to win 6-2, 6-0 in in her first Wimbledon outing. The Guardian called it “the upset of the century” . “I thought she could always maybe come back, and I knew if I gave her a chance, she would take it,” Dokic said. “I just tried to win every point, no matter if it was 15-0, or 30-30, or deuce.” Dokic went on to reach the quarter-finals after beating the ninth seed, Mary Pierce, only to lose to another qualifier, Alexandra Stevenson, in the last eight. She looked like a future champion. Yet Dokic never fulfilled that early potential for reasons ranging from injuries and illness to, more disturbingly, allegations over an abusive relationship with her father, Damir Dokic. Despite briefly rising to No4 in the WTA rankings in 2002, Dokic has not been seen on the Tour since withdrawing from a match at Charleston in 2012.

Dokic is 33. Serena Williams, the current No1, is 34. JS The Joy of Six: great Wimbledon finals Read more 2) Boris Becker wins (1985 and 1986), then loses to Peter Doohan (1987 second round) We tell ourselves that we’re amazed by a sporting upset, but the truth is it is an affectation. We know they happen because they’ve always happened, and they’re part of why we watch; when talented people throw down, anything can happen. But every so often, along comes one that resonates and intoxicates for eternity; Boris Becker winning Wimbledon in 1985 , say. In many ways, this was not only the most spectacular upset of them all but the most thrilling achievement too: the theatre not limited to one game but extending across two weeks. As humans, we are genetically programmed to derive absurd pleasure from watching youngsters emerge and then fulfil; ordinarily, these are separate events … ordinarily. There was nothing ordinary about Becker. Everything he did, he did with ferocious, infectious conviction, a tender brute with stupendous thighs who would do anything to win. And the crowd absolutely loved him.

In particular, he became famous for hurling himself at balls seemingly out of reach – or, put another way, the kind of thing that everyone does in every other sport but tennis. Though Becker’s dad was involved in the building of a tennis centre in their hometown of Leimen, the plan was for young Boris to finish school, go to university and get a job. But his talent had other ideas, so at the age of 15 he turned professional and quickly won a few junior tournaments. Raised to stand up for himself in every circumstance, he achieved the rare feat of shocking John McEnroe with his aggression. After having his shoulder bumped at change of ends, school corridor-style, McEnroe was moved to advise him that it might do to win something prior to making such a fuss; that was in March 1985. Three months later, Becker won at Queen’s Club, which took him to number 20 in the world. Though he did not exactly dispatch a murderer’s row of opponents in so doing, the “unusual beating” he dished out in the final prompted Johan Kriek, its recipient, to observe that if Becker served that well at Wimbledon, he might just win that too.

Everyone laughed, while he visited a bookmaker. By the time Becker arrived at the fiercest of all London postcodes, he was not exactly an unknown, but he was only 17. His run through the tournament was an eventful one. In round two, he quelled Matt Anger for the loss of just four games, then beat Joakim Nystrom 9-7 in the fifth set after Nystrom had twice served for the match. In round four, he came from two sets to one down against Tim Mayotte, a match in which he twisted his ankle so badly that he set off towards the net, only for his team to call him back; had he been closer, they’d have been too late. In the quarter-final, he got rid of Henri Leconte, then in the semi found himself a set and a break down to Anders Jarryd. But then it rained and Jarryd got nervous, Becker blowing him away when they came back on the Saturday. Until that point, it had seemed like the real drama was on the other side of the draw, where Kevin Curren was on a tear.

In the fourth round, he removed Stefan Edberg in straight sets, before moving on to meet McEnroe, No1 seed, defending champion and finalist five years in a row; his record for 1984 was a brilliant, baffling 82-3. But Curren saw to him – and then Jimmy Connors – in straight sets, reaching the championship match without dropping a service game. Hoping to find some inspiration the night before it, he went to see Bruce Springsteen play Wembley Stadium. Instead, he inspired an opponent still in the zone after playing earlier that day. To Curren, though, he was just that kid he’d practised with a few months earlier, the same kid who hit some good shots and some bad shots; he would be defeated by simple steadiness and accordant pressure. Perhaps not. Boom Boom Boris was fired by youth and served by the serve of a grown man. His was the perfect grass court game and frame, and at 17 years and 227 days, he became the first German and the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon, as well as the youngest ever grand slam champion.

A year later, seeded four, Becker took care of the suggestion that he did well to beat the bloke who beat the blokes, rather than the blokes themselves. He retained his title with minimum fuss and maximum prejudice, seeing away Mikael Penfors, Miroslav Mecir, Leconte and Ivan Lendl for the loss of just two sets. He was still improving and ready to rule for a generation; there was nothing anyone could do about it. Pinterest After winning the title on his first two trips to SW19, few would have predicted that Becker would add only one further Wimbledon crown to his collection. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images At the 1987 championships, Becker was seeded first, easily disposing of Karel Novacek in the first round. Then, in the second, he was drawn against Peter Doohan, the owner of a name so Australian as to practically force a person into an accent. Becker had whacked Doohan in the process of winning Queen’s, after which Doohan had lost to 246th-ranked Paul Chamberlin; it was impossible to conceive of an upset even though there was scarcely anywhere more conducive.

In those days, the courts at Wimbledon played faster and lower than they do now and, just as the French Open was frequented by clay court specialists, so SW19 attracted serve-volleyers like Doohan, rather than the all-court bores of today. Under-perform against a big bloke with a big serve who had a big day? See you later. But this was Boris Becker, yet to lose at the All England – has ever a place been so inappropriately named? – against Peter Doohan, yet to win there in four attempts. The previous year, tendinitis in his right shoulder limited Doohan to just seven singles matches; he lost them all and was ranked No70 in the world. For different reasons, both players went for everything; Doohan because he had to, and Becker because he had no reason not to. In the event, Becker missed and Doohan hit, his return of serve a particular feature. Though Becker still flung down 14 aces and 21 service winners, he was also forced to play numerous low volleys, so sought extra power and produced seven double-faults. The upshot was an spiralling Wutanfall and a four-set defeat.

“What surprised Boris was that I kept it up,” said Doohan. “I have to prove to everybody this is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” As for Becker, he’d calmed down by the time he came off, ready, whether he meant it or not, to deliver a clear-eyed and concise lesson to the “great British public”. “What do you think happened?” he was asked. “Well basically I lost a tennis match,” he replied. “I didn’t lose a war, nobody died, I lost a tennis match and I tried as hard as I could.” The lesson remains unlearned to this day. DH 3) Margaret Court loses to unknown newcomer (1962 second round) Given the identity of her second-round conqueror, perhaps it was not such a shock when Margaret Court – known as Margaret Smith at the time – made an early exit in 1962. After all, Billie Jean King knew her way around a tennis court, eventually racking up 12 grand slam singles titles during a wonderful career, and the American’s place in the hall of fame is not up for debate.

Yet her victory at SW19 that day was a remarkable effort bearing in mind that it was only her second singles match at Wimbledon, while Court was the world No1, the French Open champion and a three-times winner at the Australian Open. But she was stopped in her tracks by then unheralded 20-year-old Billie Jean Moffitt, who displayed amazing resilience to fight back after losing the first set to win 1-6, 6-3, 7-5. It was the start of a brilliant rivalry and Court had her revenge when she beat King in the final a year later. It was the first of her three Wimbledon singles titles; King would win twice as many. Court later admitted to suffering from nerves in south-west London but otherwise she had the edge in their encounters and won their most memorable match, beating King 14-12, 11-9 in the Wimbledon final in 1970. Even then, she needed seven match points to finish her off.

JS The Joy of Six: Roger Federer Read more 4) Ian Collins beats Henri Cochet (1932 second round) Along with Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon and René Lacoste, Henri Cochet was one of France’s quatre mousquetaires who bestrode tennis from the mid-1920s to early 1930s. Perhaps their most significant success came together, in 1927: in the days when the Davis Cup was sport’s premier team trophy, they beat the USA at Germantown Cricket Club, with Cochet despatching Bill Johnston in the decisive rubber. The Philadelphia Four, as they also became known, then won the next five finals, beating the same opponents in four of them . As a direct consequence, the French Tennis Federation built Roland Garros at Porte d’Auteuil; the trophy awarded to the winner of their open championship was named la Coupe des Mousquetaires. As befitted his sobriquet, Cochet was a man of chic, élan, esprit and numerous other evocative French words.

Sporting slicked back hair, smouldering eyes and an intimidating jaw hewn from canoe, he was known for his short-sleeved white shirt and white trousers, along with an instinctive, zesty and acrobatic all-court game, marked by mastery of the half-volley. Cochet won his first grand slam in 1926, beating Lacoste in Paris, then took the Wimbledon doubles with Brugnon, the first of their five slams together. Later that year, he knocked Bill Tilden, a Davis Cup rival, out of the US National Championships (now the US Open), thereby denying him a seventh straight victory. 1927 saw Cochet’s first Wimbledon singles title, and it remains one of the greatest of all time. In the quarter-final he battled back from two sets to one down and in the semi gave Tilden a 6-2, 6-4, 5-1 start before winning 17 straight points and, eventually, the match. Then, in the final, he was two sets down to Borotra and saved six match points before eventually getting it done.

Next, Cochet won in Paris, again, and New York, followed by Wimbledon again in 1929 and Paris again in 1930, beating Tilden again. Auto-Journal marvelled at “without a doubt the finest tennis ever seen in Paris”, while legend records traffic jams stretching all the way from Roland Garros to the Seine. Cochet then regained the title in 1932. So when he arrived at Wimbledon two weeks later, he was the No1 seed and a strong favourite – particularly because Lacoste and Tilden were absent. The previous year, he had lost to Nigel Sharpe in the first round, but had yet to recover from flu that caused him to miss the French Open. His first round game was easy enough – he dismissed a qualifier in straight sets, and according to Time magazine, debate centred around who would play him in the final. In round two, he was drawn against Ian Collins. Pinterest Rare archive footage of Cochet playing a match in 1927. Collins was the kind of storybook all-rounder cultivated by posh schools.

At Harrow, he was a regular in a very strong football team, missing out on an Oxford blue only because of an injury from which he never fully recovered. Even so, he was fit enough to be named as twelfth man in the Varsity cricket match – he later played for Scotland – and won half-blues in golf and tennis. The tennis world, though, was slightly different; Collins became a doubles specialist, never reaching the singles quarter-finals of any slam. Perth’s Sunday Times commented that he suffered from the “permanent disablement of one leg”, and as a consequence, his service resembled the “fantastic appearance of a monkey mounting a pole”. And yet, somehow, Collins put it on Cochet, who began the first set expecting to win easily, amusing himself with the occasional winner, then lost it 6-2 to his gross consternation. Then, in the second set, he disagreed with a line call awarded in his favour, the game pausing for the exchange of sentiments; eventually, the official recused himself.

Collins then took the second set 8-6, at which point Court 1 started filling up with thrill seekers leaving Centre – they arrived in time to see the favourite blast through the third set 6-0. But in the fourth he was, said the Sydney Morning Herald, “tired and lacking in concentration”. Collins took a 4-1 lead, before Cochet stopped cotching and won the next two games, but then lost the two after that to lose the match. Collins left the arena to tumultuous applause. “Henri Cochet can beat everybody when his shots are working,” said Lacoste later, “and be beaten by everybody when they are not.” DH 5) Ivo Karlovic shocks champion Lleyton Hewitt (2003 first round) “Two hours and 20 minutes ago, it was Ivo Who?” the BBC’s David Mercer said, capturing the mood on Centre Court as the Croatian outsider prepared to serve for the match against the defending champion. “If he holds serve here, he’ll leave as Karlovic the Conqueror.” The camera focused on Karlovic, trying to detect any signs of nerves while he sat down during the changeover.

But by giving nothing away, he emitted an air of focus and determination. He drank from a bottle of water and took one deep breath. A few yards away, a hot and bothered Lleyton Hewitt wiped his face with a towel. The Aussie fighter looked resigned to his fate. Nobody had seen this coming, not the media, not Hewitt, not even Karlovic. The defending men’s champion had not lost in the first round since the USA’s Charlie Pasarel beat Spain’s Manuel Santana in 1967 and Hewitt, the world No1, could have been forgiven for thinking that it was going to be a doddle when the draw pitched him against a 24-year-old qualifier who was playing at a grand slam for the first time. Karlovic, all 6ft 10in of him, was the world No203 and the prospect of an upset was almost nonexistent at first, with the agile Hewitt dominating the first set, winning it 6-1 inside 18 minutes. Hewitt was a two-times grand slam champion. Thanks for coming, Ivo. Better luck next year. Assuming you qualify. But Hewitt was not invincible.

His form leading into the tournament was patchy, featuring a third-round defeat to Tommy Robredo at the French Open and the loss of his Queen’s title after a quarter-final defeat to Sebastien Grosjean, and Karlovic began to fight back in the second set, using his giant frame to take control of the match with his fearsome serve. He volleyed well, too, as Hewitt continued to hustle at the baseline and wore the Australian down, securing an unforgettable 1-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory . Pinterest Hewitt watches yet another Karlovic serve fly past his racket. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Hewitt never recovered his aura after losing to Karlovic. Though he was a fine player, he rose to the top of the rankings during a time of transition, with Pete Sampras fading, Roger Federer still to establish himself and Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic yet to emerge. He had won both of his grand slam finals, beating Sampras in the US Open in 2001 and David Nalbandian at Wimbledon in 2002.

The fortnight ended with Federer winning the first of his 17 grand slam titles , thumping Mark Philippoussis in the final. A new order emerged. The balance of power shifted and when Hewitt reached the final of the US Open in 2004, he lost 6-0, 7-6, 6-0 to Federer. When he retired in January of this year, he had not been in a final since losing to Marat Safin in the Australian Open 11 years ago. JS 6) Kathy Jordan beats Chris Evert (1983 third round) Chris Evert was a tennis machine, a metronomic power-hitter with a tungsten will who dominated the women’s game in the mid-to-late 1970s. Most notably, she won both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 1974, part of a then-record streak of 55 consecutive victories.

By the early 1980s, she had been reeled in by her close friend Martina Navratilova, but in 1982, Evert-Lloyd, as she was then, was in the ascendancy, winning the US and Australian Opens. The second of those completed her career grand slam and, after winning at Roland-Garros in 1983, she headed to Wimbledon already a three-times champion, seeking the only major not already in her possession. Roger Federer: ‘I need the fire, the excitement, the whole rollercoaster’ Read more The night before her third round game against Kathy Jordan, Evert-Lloyd was forced to call a doctor, vomiting on account of a stomach virus. But the All England Club refused her request for delay – perhaps they expected her to be saved by rain that never materialised – so prior to playing, she took an anti-nausea injection. Jordan – unseeded and without so much as a set in their five meetings to that point – absolutely flew at her, meeting Evert-Lloyd’s flat groundstrokes with clever slices, angles and volleys.

And Ms JM Lloyd, as the scoreboard had her – “everyone’s favourite daughter-in-law” as the Times had her – simply could not keep up, losing the first set 6-1. Then, in the second, she took a 4-0 lead but, with Jordan mentally preparing for a decider, somehow lost six of the next eight games before being walloped 7-2 in a tiebreaker. For the first time since 1971 and the first time in 34 slams, Evert was out before the semi-final – something that happened only thrice more in the next six years. “The match had run away like sand through poor Mrs Lloyd’s fingers,” wrote the Times’ Geoffrey Green. “Miss Jordan has spread her game like opening an old chest full of spices, yellowed love letters and summer dresses.” There can be no greater praise. DH French Open 2016 Men's Final: Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray Predictions | Bleacher Report French Open 2016 Men's Final: Novak Djokovic vs.

Andy Murray Predictions By Matt Jones , Featured Columnist Jun 4, 2016 Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories GERARD JULIEN/Getty Images 1 Comment Both Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be seeking to clinch a maiden French Open title on Sunday, as they meet in what should be a gripping final at Roland Garros in Paris. Djokovic has never got his hands on the Coupe des Mousquetaires previously, despite having dominated the men’s game for the last couple of years and winning 11 Grand Slam titles in his career. Murray will be playing in the final at this venue for the first time, having only won two of his nine major finals previously. These two players typically put on spectacular matches, as not only are they the two most gifted players in the game but the two fittest as well. Here is a closer look at the key details on the cusp of this final and an examination of how this one is set to pan out.

French Open 2016: Men's Final Key Details Match Court Philippe Chatrier, Roland Garros Various History Beckons for Djokovic and Murray Although few would dispute the genial abilities of Djokovic, a win here on this surface against a player such as Murray would thrust him into the reckoning of being one of the finest players of all time. The Serb has won all of the other three Grand Slams on multiple occasions and dominated the world rankings. But a Roland Garros success has eluded him, with a surprise loss in the final last year against Stanislas Wawrinka. As noted by Ben Rothenberg of the New York Times, he’ll face another familiar foe here: Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray will have now met in the finals of all four Grand Slam events. Murray has won the ones outside Australia. #RG16 — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 3, 2016 Murray has never looked better on clay than he has in the second week of this tournament. There were some extremely precarious moments early in the draw, as he came from two sets behind to win his opening match and then 2-1 down in Round 2.

But he’s now found his groove in spectacular fashion. "Reaching the French Open final is definitely not something I thought I'd do," the man himself conceded, per BBC Sport . "Last year I started to have the belief that I could do it. It's great credit to my team to get my body healthy." MIGUEL MEDINA/Getty Images The win over Wawrinka in the semi-finals was emblematic of his form. Murray turned in such a balanced performance, showing aggression, intelligence and fortitude; when the champion bounced back to win the third set and make it 2-1, the Scot extinguished any hopes of a fightback with an immediate break in the fourth. Some of the inventiveness he’s shown on these slow Roland Garros courts has been joyous, too, as we can see courtesy of Eurosport UK: This is OUTRAGEOUS from Andy Murray #RG16 — Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) June 3, 2016 A third Grand Slam triumph in a third different competition would be a huge achievement for Murray.

Indeed, Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph thinks that a win would cement the 29-year-old's legendary status in British sport: Seem to say this every year but Andy Murray is probably greatest UK sportsman there's been. Might be underrated, actually. — Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) June 3, 2016 It’ll be far from easy, though. Murray may have beaten Djokovic in Rome last month on clay, but the world No. 1 is as determined as they come. The second seed can battle, scrap and haul his way into winning positions as well as anyone, but Djokovic is capable of matching him when it comes to these gritty attributes. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Djokovic possesses an insatiable appetite for these big occasions. The Serb has had a much simpler path to the final as well. His semi-final opponent, Dominic Thiem, seemed to be daunted by the big occasion in Paris, allowing Djokovic to coast past him without really breaking sweat. Consider the gruelling games Murray has gone through earlier in the tournament, that physical edge will be key.

As these numbers from ESPN Tennis illustrate, Djokovic has fared very well in some attritional battles with Murray previously: Djokovic is 23-10 vs. Murray, including a 3-1 edge on clay. Murray won last meeting, which was on clay, in Rome final. 66.4% Total votes: 661 It’s tough to foresee a clear winner. These two competitors battle for every point, have an incredible defensive game and are each capable of producing moments of untamed inspiration. They’re both well capable of taking sets off one another and maintain standards for hours out on court. Matches between these two previously seem to have depended on extremely fine margins, and the freshness of Djokovic will ultimately swing it his way. Murray has evidently overcome his early tournament issues, but at the end of two punishing weeks for him, his long-term rival has the capabilities to ruthlessly exploit any tiny frailties.

Prediction: Djokovic to win in five sets For Novak Djokovic, it's no career slam dunk FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest For Novak Djokovic, it's no career slam dunk PARIS — For the last three years, Novak Djokovic has arrived at the French Open among the favorites, and in each of those years, the Serbian has left without the winner's trophy. With the tournament beginning Post to Facebook For Novak Djokovic, it's no career slam dunk PARIS — For the last three years, Novak Djokovic has arrived at the French Open among the favorites, and in each of those years, the Serbian has left without the winner's trophy. With the tournament beginning Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Nation's Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs For Novak Djokovic, it's no career slam dunk Nick McCarvel, Special for USA TODAY Sports 5:15 p.m.

ET May 22, 2015 Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball during a training session for the French Open at the Roland Garros stadium, Friday. (Photo: Francois Mori, AP) PARIS — For the last three years, Novak Djokovic has arrived at the French Open among the favorites, and in each of those years, the Serbian has left without the winner's trophy. With the tournament beginning Sunday, there is no bigger story in tennis than the world No. 1 player's quest to hoist the Coupe des Mousquetaires, a triumph that would complete his career Grand Slam, adding to his titles in the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. "This discussion is going to follow him for the rest of his career until he completes it," said Darren Cahill, a coach and TV analyst. "I think he can draw from his experience for the last couple of years, where against (Rafael) Nadal he had chances. It's a cliché, but you can't look past one opponent.

You have to beat one person each day, not the whole field." Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova could collide in French Open final Djokovic has seemingly beaten the whole field in 2015 thus far. He won the Australian Open in January, his fifth title there and eighth Grand Slam. After a loss to Roger Federer in a smaller event in February, Djokovic has won 23 consecutive matches. He arrives this week as the oddsmakers' favorite over Nadal, a nine-time French Open winner. "The fact that I've managed to win that many matches in a row subconsciously gives me a reason to believe that I can do it again," Djokovic said of his streak after winning in Rome last week. "I will keep going as long as I can." Nadal has stopped Djokovic in Paris the last three years, most notably in 2013, when the Serbian led by a break in the fifth set in the semifinals only to errantly touch the net on an overhead smash, handing back the break and eventually succumbing. "Djokovic has been so close and so unlucky. He's been as close as you can get without winning it," said Nick Lester, a TV commentator.

"You have to make Djokovic the favorite. I don't think Rafa has ever really gotten going this season. He has been scratchy." But many are divided on the state of Nadal's game, namely Federer, who says the Spaniard, who is a mind-boggling 66-1 in Paris (including 35 in a row), is the man to beat. "You cannot take away the last 10 years. He is the favorite still to me," Federer said Sunday after losing to Djokovic. "It's all talk. At the end, it's the rackets that do the talking. Why do the French hate Rafael Nadal? "Novak can do very well, as can Rafa. I really hope it's not just between the two of them. I hope there are some other guys who are going to be part of that group, and I hope in particular myself." Federer and Nadal have their career Grand Slams locked in. Djokovic, who turned 28 Friday, is making a push to rewrite the history books when it comes to the golden age of tennis and who has ruled this era.

"It's obvious that Rafa is not playing his best," Djokovic said. "But I'm sure he wants to peak at the most important clay tournament at Roland Garros." For Djokovic, it's seven matches and 21 sets over 15 days. A year ago he made it through 19 sets, but again was stopped short. "It's not anything new for him – this chase – and that's a good thing," Lester said. "From his perspective, he's learned to manage that. "We keep saying the same thing every year" Lester added, referring to the French Open title Djokovic has yet to claim. "It has to play on his mind. If it doesn't, he's not human. I think he would tell you that this is the most important one.

It's a chance to elevate himself to a different sphere in the sport and frankly, he's not a guy who stands for second best." CLOSE Rene Lacoste: The lasting legacy of 'Le Crocodile' - CNN.com Rene Lacoste: The lasting legacy of 'Le Crocodile' By Tom Sweetman , for CNN updated 8:48 AM EDT, Thu September 11, 2014 In the space of just four years, Rene Lacoste would become one of the most famous tennis players in France's history. He won the French Open at the age of 20 in 1925, eventually claiming a total of seven major singles championships on top of three doubles titles, while he was also ranked No. 1 in the world in 1926 and 1927. Alongside compatriots Jacques Brugnon, Jean Borotra, and Henri Cochet, Lacoste helped make up the "Four Musketeers" -- a group who cemented France's status as the dominant force in the sport during the 1920s and 1930s. They led their nation to six straight Davis Cup titles.

Stade Roland Garros was built in 1928 to host France's maiden defense of the Davis Cup following the quartet's 1927 win. Each of the stadium's four main grandstands are named after one of them, while the winner of the French Open men's singles championship is presented with the "Coupe des Mousquetaires" trophy. Despite being forced to retire at the age of 24 due to health problems, Lacoste remained in the game and started the "Lacoste" brand in 1933, specializing in tennis products. The inspiration for the company's logo came from his nickname as a player, "Le Crocodile." A number of leading tennis players would go on to use a variety of Lacoste's creations, including his revolutionary short-sleeved polo shirt. Jimmy Connors (left) and Billie Jean King, to name a few, used his metal tennis racket. Lacoste introduced his "Equijet" tennis racket to the up-and-coming Guy Forget, and the pair would go on to forge a special relationship. Forget wore "Lacoste" clothing as he helped France win its first Davis Cup for 59 years in 1991.

Lacoste passed away from heart failure in 1996, but his name still lives on. "Lacoste" remains a highly-successful clothing brand, specializing in sports and leisurewear. HIDE CAPTION Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook (CNN) -- It's December 1991 and France is on the verge of making tennis history. The scene is set for Guy Forget to lead the nation to Davis Cup victory for the first time in 59 years. Standing in his way is a U.S. team defending its title -- and more specifically, Pete Sampras. Some 40 games and many more points later, the Frenchman produces an irresistible serve-and-volley combination that leaves his young opponent -- who would later become one of the greatest tennis players -- failing desperately to return. The home crowd in the Gerland Sports Palace in Lyon erupts; Forget falls to his feet. Six decades of waiting is finally over. With a crocodile logo sitting atop of his pounding heart, the match-winner was lofted onto his teammates' shoulders with tears in his eyes, bursting with pride, taking in this historic moment.

If Forget was emotional, so too was an 87-year-old man who had helped France to its first Davis Cup success back in 1927 -- also against the United States -- and had now finally seen the famous trophy return to his homeland. The pride for that man, Rene Lacoste, was twofold. Not only had he played a role in Forget's development, he was also responsible for that distinctive reptile perching on the chest of the history-maker's shirt. "I remember all the letters we got and all the phone calls (from Lacoste) when we won the Davis Cup in 1991," Forget told CNN's Open Court. "Beating the United States was very special for us, but for Rene as well." The first diva of women's tennis Watercolorist captures French Open Davis Cup showdown So tenacious was Lacoste's style of play on court, building his game from the baseline and keeping his opponents on the move with an array of precise groundstrokes, he earned the nickname "Le Crocodile" -- the symbol that would later define his fashion empire. "He fought like a real crocodile ... and never gave up on his prey," American journalist George Carens wrote in 1923.

Forget adds: "One of his traits on the court was that he'd never give up, he'd return every ball back. He was unbeatable and that's how that name came. It's great to identify someone with an animal." Lacoste's major breakthrough came in 1925, when he won the French Open at the age of 20, before adding the Wimbledon title a month later. Within just four years, he had claimed a total of seven major singles championships on top of three doubles titles, while he was ranked No. 1 in the world in both 1926 and 1927. Lacoste was also a member of two Davis Cup-winning teams in an era when the competition took on the same prestige as a modern-day soccer World Cup. Between the two world wars, France dominated tennis. With compatriots Jacques Brugnon, Jean Borotra, and Henri Cochet, Lacoste helped make up the "Four Musketeers" -- a group of national icons idolized in their homeland. "He was very inspirational, not only to me but to a lot of French players," Forget says of Lacoste. He was all these different persons at once.

He was an engineer, he was a great champion, he was a visionary man, he always had ways of talking about the future. Guy Forget, 1991 Davis Cup winner So inspirational were the efforts of Lacoste and his peers to their people that the Stade Roland Garros was built specially in Paris to host France's maiden defense of the Davis Cup in 1928. Each of the stadium's four main spectator grandstands were named after one of the quartet, while the winner of today's French Open men's singles championship is still presented with the "Coupe des Mousquetaires" trophy. "We built Roland Garros for them, they were the reason the stadium was built, so it shows that at that time they were huge stars," French tennis journalist Philippe Bouin told CNN. "Maybe because they were the first French team to have success." Yet as sport has a cruel way of doing so, a career with its best years still lying ahead, and one that still offered so much more promise, was soon brought to an abrupt end. In 1929, and at the age of just 24, Lacoste was forced to hang up his racket due to a respiratory disease.

The Parisian would have been forgiven for walking away from the game at this point, but his unrelenting passion for tennis, and perhaps the heartache suffered from his premature retirement, drove him on to leave a more far-reaching legacy than just a collection of trophies. Eastern Europe's Davis Cup domination History of the Davis Cup Althea Gibson's Tennis legacy "He said, 'Tennis couldn't be the future for me, I have to do other things, I have to work.' In fact for him it wasn't work, it was amusement," former France Davis Cup captain Jean-Paul Loth told CNN. An innovator during his playing days, Lacoste had covered the handles of his rackets with surgical tape to make them easier to use, while also designing and creating a tennis ball-pitching machine to help him train. As of 1930, post-retirement, he started mass-producing his invention for the benefit of others, and the "Lacoste Machine" would soon play a part in training players for generations to come. "He was all these different persons at once," Forget says.

"He was an engineer, he was a great champion, he was a visionary man, he always had ways of talking about the future, whether it was rackets, balls, materials, the game." And materials would become Lacoste's next pet project. Fed up with the heavy, long-sleeved shirts that had long been part of the tennis player's attire, he designed a more practical, cotton version, with revolutionary short sleeves. Joining forces with Andre Gillier, the founder of one of the oldest and biggest hosiery businesses in Troyes, in 1933 he launched the state-of-the-art polo shirt, complete with a crocodile logo embroidered on it, and so the "Lacoste" brand was born. He had been sporting the reptile on his tennis whites since a friend, Robert George, designed the logo for him the previous decade. "He wanted to find something that was lighter, more comfortable, that you could breathe more freely with it, that's what he did with the shirt," Forget says. "He was always trying to find new ways of improving everything.

"As long as it worked he didn't care about breaking the boundaries of what was conventional." The polo shirt proved a hit, and with it the "Lacoste" brand, as subsequent generations of leading players all donned the cotton number on court. He formed a fashion house with his wife Simone, who like their daughter Catherine was a top amateur golfer -- another sport into which the Lacoste logo spread. Yannick Noah's unforgettable moment Teen sensation with the X factor In the footsteps of 'Grand Slam Stan' Aged 57, Lacoste was still refusing to rest on his laurels, and had another trick up his sleeve. In 1961, he unveiled the metal tennis racket -- an idea he had been working on for 30 years. By using metal instead of wood, the racket would be more resilient, and just as importantly, the ball could be hit with far more power. Pierre Darmon, France's No. 1 player at the time, agreed to try out the racket and debuted it at Wimbledon in 1963.

By 1978, the T2000, as it was known, had helped win 46 grand slam titles and was used by some of the most famous names in the world, including Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King. But Lacoste wasn't just an inventor extraordinaire. Having been a tennis player, too, he took time out to show a great interest in those who handled his creations. "Rene always had a gentle look on the players who were using his rackets or wearing the shirts," Forget said. "He'd always give you advice and invite you to his house, if he had an idea like a tennis racket." Lacoste's next brainchild was the "Equijet." A racket using the latest in cutting-edge technology, it combined the advantages of small and large beams, while looking rather like a violin or guitar. He introduced it to the up-and-coming Forget in 1988, and it would play no small part in his future successes. "He was always trying to find new ways of improving the game and having the edge on other players, especially the French players being able to use them," Forget says.

In many ways, that historic evening in Lyon could be seen as the culmination of his life's work. Lacoste died in 1996, aged 92, having struggled with health problems -- and France won the Davis Cup again. "He would have been proud of what became of tennis in France, because tennis has grown in the last 50 years," Bouin says. This weekend the French team will seek to reach the Davis Cup final for the first time since losing the 2010 title match, taking on two-time defending champion the Czech Republic at Roland Garros. The current crop of players, led by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet, are known as "The New Musketeers" -- though they have a long way to go to match the exploits of "Le Crocodile." They might not all wear his clothes, but the legacy lives on.

FENDRICH ON TENNIS: Time to talk Grand Slam bid for Djokovic | WTOP FENDRICH ON TENNIS: Time to talk Grand Slam bid for Djokovic By The Associated Press June 6, 2016 10:00 am 06/06/2016 10:00am Share Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, poses with the French Open tennis trophy during a photo session at the Place de la Concorde, in Paris, Monday June 6, 2016. Djokovic was the winner against Britain's Andy Murray in four sets 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic wanted to relish the moment, rightly so. For more than a decade, he tried to win the French Open, the lone Grand Slam title missing from his collection, coming close but never quite sealing the deal. Three losses in the final. Four more in the semifinals.

So when he’d finally succeeded in becoming the champion at Roland Garros, beating Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday, Djokovic was naturally focused on that particular accomplishment. In the bigger picture, though, there was so much more that was significant and historic about this victory: It made Djokovic the eighth man with a career Grand Slam — at least one trophy from each of tennis’ four most important events — and, even rarer, only the third man to win all of those major tournaments in a row, something last done almost 50 years ago. Now there is an even greater pursuit that awaits, the ultimate achievement in his sport: a true Grand Slam, winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in a single season. So Djokovic was asked Sunday evening whether he ever dreamed about — or now will put his mind to — joining Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962, 1969) in going 4-for-4. “Well, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I really think everything is achievable in life.

You know, winning this trophy today gave me so much happiness and fulfillment. I’m trying to grasp, and I’m trying to cherish, obviously, these moments right now,” Djokovic said, eyes fixed on that once-elusive Le Coupe des Mousquetaires, resting a foot or so away on a table. “Whether or not I can reach a calendar Slam, that’s still a possibility,” he continued. “But, you know, I don’t think about it right now. Right now, I just try to enjoy this experience of winning the trophy that I never won before.” Whether or not Djokovic himself wants to discuss the Grand Slam, it will be at the forefont of everyone else’s minds when play begins at Wimbledon in just three weeks. So let’s start the conversation, because it’s worth having. In the nearly half-century since Laver’s second Slam, no man even came close to repeating the feat. Indeed, until Djokovic, only Mats Wilander, in 1988, and Jim Courier, in 1992, managed to make it halfway by winning the Australian Open and French Open in the same year.

Roger Federer never did that, winning the Australian Open four times, but not in 2009, the one year he won the French Open. Nor did Rafael Nadal, winning the French Open nine times, but not in 2009, the one year he won the Australian Open. Wilander’s bid ended in the quarterfinals at the All England Club, Courier’s in the third round there. Neither ever won Wimbledon. But Djokovic has. Three times, actually, including the past two years. He’s won the U.S. Open twice, including last year. He’s also in what appears to be his prime, only two weeks past his 29th birthday, demonstrating in Paris that his body-contorting, no-ball-gets-past-me defense, best-in-the-world returns and improved serve are too much for most every opponent to handle. “His performances over the last 18 months to two years have been exceptional,” Murray said. With a tour-leading 44-3 record and six titles in 2016, Djokovic is firmly entrenched at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, with more points than No. 2 Murray and No. 3 Federer combined, as of Monday.

“Let’s see what the future brings,” said Marian Vajda, who co-coaches Djokovic with Boris Becker. “He’s the best player now, and (getting) the French will give him a boost.” That must be a frightening prospect for opponents. As the world saw last year, when Serena Williams came within two wins of securing the first women’s Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988, the attention and pressure that come along with such an endeavor can be overwhelming. Not to mention that all manner of mishaps can get in the way. As Laver put it in a 2010 interview with The Associated Press: “All it takes is one bad match, anywhere along the whole year. You’ve got to stay fit. Can’t have injury or illness. Can’t have a bad draw.” For 28 consecutive matches at majors, on hard, grass and clay courts, all has gone Djokovic’s way. Can he add 14 more to that streak? It’ll be fun to talk about. And more fun to watch. ___ Howard Fendrich covers tennis for The Associated Press.

Write to him at hfendrich@ap.org and follow him on Twitter at French Open: 'French tennis and 30 years of hurt' - BBC Sport BBC Sport French Open: 'French tennis and 30 years of hurt' By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Roland Garros 4 Jun 2013 Read more about sharing. Would you rather have one Grand Slam champion or 12 top-100 players? That is the stark contrast highlighted by an opening week at Roland Garros which involved no British men in singles action for the first time since 2007. Frenchmen were everywhere you looked, with Gael Monfils taking early top billing and leading man Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fancied for a run at the final having landed in the more comfortable side of the draw. France has 20 men ranked higher than Britain's number two James Ward, at 207 in the world, and provided seven of the last 32 at Roland Garros. Without injured US Open champion Andy Murray, Britain had just one man in qualifying, the recent Australian import Brydan Klein, who lost in the first round.

But success is relative and the Paris crowd are a demanding bunch; they have left many a French player an emotional wreck after failing to perform. "Over a glass of vin rouge in the press bar, at the end of a hard working day, it's not uncommon for the Brits to engage with the locals and debate the tennis fortunes of our respective nations. "It may surprise you but for all their top 100 players to report upon, many of the French journalists would love to trade that strength in depth for the Grand Slam win Andy Murray has given the UK. "And, of course, we would like their production line of talent (but wouldn't trade the 2012 US Open for anything). The key point is that the great champions are born rather than produced and once Murray has retired, France will be much better off. "A much more established club structure, proliferation of clay courts and greater competition for juniors means France has the base upon which to build that the UK craves." Richard Gasquet has had a turbulent relationship with his compatriots since being touted as a future world number one at the age of nine. He now uses his failure, if it can be called that, to reach the top of the rankings as a positive.

"I think not so much pressure," said the world number nine. "Nobody expects I win the tournament, but for sure I want to perform here. I'm very motivated, so I will try to do my best. "There is a lot of French good players, and we will try our best to go far in the tournament, but for sure we are not the favourite. There is Djokovic and Nadal." And there is the problem. It was not Tsonga, Gasquet or Monfils who dominated the build-up to the French Open but Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires 30 years ago. If the British are obsessed with their now 77-year-wait for a Wimbledon men's champion, 1983 is starting to feel like an awful long time ago across the channel. Tsonga, Gasquet, Monfils and the rest are all terrific players, but the odds on any of them winning a Grand Slam are long while the top four continue to dominate. "The sooner the better," is tournament director and French federation chief Gilbert Ysern's blunt point of view on when a French man will win a major.

"Still talking about Yannick Noah's win 30 years ago is not too good," he told BBC World Service. "It's difficult because the level of the top four guys is so high that it's very difficult for any player, including ours, to beat them. "We have top-10 players but beating two or three of the top four to get a Grand Slam title is a very, very difficult achievement and unfortunately they have not succeeded yet, and I believe it's going to be difficult the next two or three years." Yannick Noah was the last Frenchman to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires 30 years ago Still, the Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen stadium courts have thrilled to the exploits of Monfils in recent days, and the prospect of Tsonga facing Roger Federer in the quarter-finals will keep tennis in the spotlight in France. British tennis has been given a boost in recent years by the arrival of Laura Robson and Heather Watson as world-class players, but the hopes of a home winner at Wimbledon next month rest solely with Andy Murray - and his vulnerable lower back.

That France can produce more top-class tennis players should not come as a surprise looking at the statistics, despite solid numbers being hard to come by. The two countries have similar population sizes and, according to Tennis Europe, numbers of regular players (although that figure is especially debatable), but France has 50% more tennis courts, four times the number of indoor courts, and three times the number of clubs. With tennis so much more part of the sporting culture it is little wonder the French can produce more top men than Britain, with a ratio of 20 to 1 in terms of the top 200. However, Britain leads 1-0 in terms of Grand Slam singles titles in the last 30 years. "We do believe that a Grand Slam winner or a number one in the world is not something that a federation can provide," says Ysern. "We believe that if we do a good job we will breed top-100, top-50, maybe top-20 players, then the one who's going to win a Grand Slam or reach number one in the world is going to have something I'm not sure a federation can give him. France's top-100 men 98.

Guillaume Rufin Information correct on Tuesday 4 June "It's some additional thing they really have personally and it's difficult for a federation to teach that to any player." France and Britain share an annual fortnight of tennis purgatory, but while the French enjoy a week of thrills and spills before missing out on the prizegiving, Britons wonder where the rest of their tennis players are, all the while expecting the number one to be there at the business end. The best a Frenchman has done at Roland Garros since Noah was Henri Leconte's final in 1988, but he was swept aside by Mats Wilander, while Britain has been able to enjoy - or endure - Tim Henman and Murray providing seven semi-finals and a final in the last 15 years. Maybe the men should take the advice of Mary Pierce, the woman who ended France's 33-year wait for a female French Open champion in 2000. "There is definitely that extra pressure because you want to win for yourself and for the crowd, and your family," she told the BBC. "I had my aunts, cousins, uncles here. You have lots of extra media attention, so there's definitely more pressure.

"You have to mentally psyche yourself out and tell yourself it's just another match, just another tournament. "I know I've come through so many matches on that court because of what that crowd gave me - it can be just one fan with one word or little phrase - but there are some players that couldn't ever deal with the pressure and expectations." Tsonga will do well to convince himself it is just another match when he steps onto court to face Federer in the quarter-finals, but with previous Grand Slam wins over the Swiss - and a draw that kept him apart from Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - the anticipation is building. "I'm French, it's in France, and of course there may be a bit more pressure, but for me it's positive," he said. "It's positive pressure, because I have everything to win and I would say nothing to lose. "But if I go far in this tournament or if I win, it's going to be something huge."

Question: The winner of which particular sporting competition wins the Coupe des Mousquetaires?
Answer: French Open Tennis