As much as R-Fed must be high-fiving tonight, I wonder how much inside he is actually disappointed, thinking that maybe he could have beat Rafa this time and claimed a modicum of his mystique back.

I know the tournament hasn't started yet, but it's hard to see R-Fed as anything but the prohibitive favorite at this point on the mens side.

As for the ladies...who knows these days.  Seems like each tournament brings out someone new.  I see Kim Clijsters came out of retirement, but we'll see if she ever gets back to the level she was at.  Sharapova probably still needs a few more tournaments to see if she will get back to the top.  And the freaky Williams sisters always do well there.  And what the heck happened to Ana Ivanovic's game?

-- Modified on 6/20/2009 3:13:51 AM

With or without Rafa.  R-Fed is going to win this tournament anyway.  Last year win for Rafa was a fluke.

I am an R-Fed fan, but Rafa earned that win last year.  He played at the level of his game that R-Fed would have to play to beat Rafa with both healthy at Roland Garros.  R-Fed couldn't do that...Rafa, who is a few years younger than R-Fed, did it, and I think could have done it again, if you saw the Austrailian final (I know, different surface, but my point is that he had R-Fed mentally whipped).

Anyway, we won't find out this year, and R-Fed will likely get his 15th Slam title gift wrapped...unless he lets someone else beat him.  It will be interesting to see how long it takes Rafa to be back up to full strength.

Ok, I give Rafa maybe a litte credit for last year win.  But Fed wasn't at his best that day.  He was 1 for somthing like 15 on break points.  That's unFed like number.  I can't give Rafa full credit on that.  

And in Australian final this year.  Fed gave away that 5th set.  He just choked.  Rafa didn't win it.  Fed just lost it.

-- Modified on 6/21/2009 4:21:44 PM