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From
Greatness to Grunts
Our Experts Cast Their Vote for Top Moments at the
French Open
Outsports readers
Bridgeport Jake and Yonex Guy join The B Man, our regular
correspondent, in recognizing some of the best and worst of the 2002
French Open
Best Performance
The B Man: Albert Costa’s title run was sublime. Costa not only
stood firm against Juan Carlos Ferrero’s psychotic fugue of a
performance in the final, which was truly a feat, but also beat both
of last year’s finalists, Gustavo Kuerten and Alex Corretja, and one
of the ATP tour’s most promising stars, Guillermo Canas, en route to
the championship match.
Bridgeport Jake: Other than dropping that opening set to Vera
Zvonareva, Serena Williams was immaculate. I dare say that clay-court
tennis suits her speed very, very well.
Yonex Guy: I would say the best performance was from the French
tennis fans/audience watching the women’s final! It was inspiring to
hear absolutely no sounds between points, and very subdued
clapping for points won in respect to the Williams sisters for the
true emotional tension that was palatable during the entire match. Not
one warning about cell phone’s being turned off.
Best Comeback Performance
The B Man: Andre Agassi, for snatching victory from Paul-Henri
Mathieu, after being down to the young Frenchman 0 sets to 2 and a
break in the third. Clarisa Fernandez, for making it to her first semi
at a Grand Slam event by battling from 0 sets to 1 and a break in the
second against elder countrywoman Paola Suarez.
Bridgeport Jake: Gotta give it to Chanda Rubin. With only one
minor tournament the week before under her belt, she knocked off two
seeds and took five games off of Venus in the Round of 16. Mary
Pierce, meanwhile, had been back since Sarasota, also knocked off two
seeds, had the home court behind her, and lost 1&1 to Serena. Back
from the gutter, Vince Spadea put up a huge fight against local kid
Sebastian Grosjean. If Spadea can take the next step, I'd love to see
him make some noise in New York.
Yonex Guy: Though Mary Pierce’s play against Serena was totally
abominable, there aren’t too many players, if any, who could have
dented Serena in that quarter’s performance. Coming off of basically
one-year’s absence, missing last years French to defend her title,
being ranked in the 100’s and getting into the semi’s, having beaten
some great clay players was nice to see. Seeing Vince Spadea’s
performance thru the slam and into the match against Grosjean was
again inspiring. Watching his post match interview, anyone could see
that he was truly dejected and down. Patrick McEnroe just kept saying,
“Great match, great run here and keep up the good work!”
Best Grunt
The B Man: Jelena Dokic, whose “Eww-KEH!” sounds much more
natural than the barks and grunts we hear from Capriati and the
Sisters Williams. Juan Carlos Ferrero, for the raw, vulnerable vocal
efforts he produced out of desperation in the men’s final.
Bridgeport Jake: Serena again. Especially when she's jumping up
in the air. Love it.
Yonex Guy: Jelena Dokic. Ever since her debut into the pro, WTA
tour she has had that very unique “Chhheww” whenever she hits a ball.
She was quoted as saying growing up watching Monica Seles and her
ground strokes explode with her exhales gave her the OK
that her exhales on ground strokes could make it in the pro tour too.”
Juan Carlos Ferrero. During his match against Andre Agassi and then
Marat Safin, his concentration and ground stokes were just sent with
an exclamation point, his long grunt! You could tell when he was
focused on that ground stroke and the big serve, he really made the
grunt.
Biggest Disappointment
The B Man: The Belgian Women, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin,
who lost relatively early at Roland Garros, despite reaching the
semi’s last year and playing well in the spring clay court season.
Andy Roddick, for punking out in the first round.
Bridgeport Jake: Monica Seles. I naively thought she had a real
chance in the quarters against Venus. As much as I love Monica, she
had her last, best chance here. And just totally dropped the ball.
Just a personal disappointment, I really wanted Alex Corretja to win.
But the Costa machine got in the way of glory. Don't give up, Alex!
Yonex Guy: Kim Clijsters. Hands down the most pathetic
performance in a slam by a former finalist. To lose 0-6 in a straight-set loss in the 3rd
Round to an inspired Clarisa Fernandez, all the
while being a top 10 player was just unreal. Roger Federer. Going out
in the first round after a fantastic clay court season to a feisty
Arazi was unreal. Roger’s game is all-court, rare serve and volleying
ability, his movement is catlike, and his concentration in the last
year is gaining. Runner Up – Juan Carlos Ferrero. After 2 years
consecutively losing in the semis to Guga, this was his year to shine.
He was dull.
Breakthrough Performance
The B Man: Argentine women’s tennis, for sending two women,
Clarisa Fernandez and Paola Suarez, into the quarterfinals, a first
since the days of Gabriela Sabatini. Albert Costa, not only for
winning a major when nearly no one thought he could, but for playing
inspired but focused clay court tennis to do so.
Bridgeport Jake: Clarisa Fernandez. Moment? Down match point
(2-5) to Venus Williams in the semis, she closed to 4-5 and was back
on serve. Unable to force a third-set, she nonetheless did herself
proud. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to other surfaces--she's only won one main-draw match on a surface other than clay this
year. Runner-up: Zvonareva. Paul-Henri Mathieu. The young French wild
card made it to the fourth round where he put a hella scare into Andre
Agassi. Perhaps Agassi could have fared better against Ferrero had he
not dropped those first to sets to Mathieu. Runner-up: Costa. Despite
what I said earlier, I'm happy for Albert.
Yonex Guy: Serena Williams. I think that this year, this clay
court season and this slam has shown us an entirely new Serena
Williams. Her interviews are focused, mature, and very gracious to her
foes and predecessors. She is even now saying that she gained her
ability to focus, look at the strings after point’s won/lost, to
Monica Seles. She said that watching tapes of her and watching the
matches growing up, she was so inspired by her mental focus and
awesome game. Albert Costa. To finally put together a grand slam and
big win for himself against his own countrymen was truly inspiring.
Crossing the net and embracing Corretja and Ferrero was so cool!
Best Slide
The B Man: Serena Williams, who covered the court especially
well in her semifinal encounter with Jennifer Capriati; one replay
showed Serena finishing a slide one on foot and already preparing for
an aggressive play at the net. Marat Safin, who looked good on the
dirt even in a losing effort.
Bridgeport Jake: Justine Henin. I don't care if she did lose
in the first round. Girl can slide.
Yonex Guy: Serena Williams. Her slides during the match with
Capriati and during the play with Venus showed how much she has
adjusted her big game to the red clay. She is the more explosive on
the court and to add the slide into that physical show should send
fear into the WTA tour for any clay court match to come. Marat
Safin/Albert Costa. Marat Safin being 6’4” and learning to slide on
the clay and still pick up some great ground strokes/drop shots from
his opponents was very cool. Albert Costa uses clay sliding like being
on a surfboard. Some of his drop shots and “supposed” winners and shot
pick-ups while sliding shows he truly does have the clay mastered in
balance.
Most Explosive Ground strokes
The B Man: Although Albert Costa’s inside-out forehand was
truly a thing of beauty in the men’s final, Guillermo Canas is the
very definition of explosive off both sides—forehand and backhand…just
ask Carlos Moya.
Bridgeport Jake: Serena. The only player I consistently say
"wow" about when I watch her hit from either side. On the men’s side,
All I can say is that Grosjean's forehand against Spadea was a
revelation to me.
Yonex Guy: Serena Williams. Watching her French Open play and
especially from the quarters on (Pierce, Capriati, Williams) gave me
shivers just watching it! If I were on the WTA tour, I would be in the
gym. Albert Costa/Juan Carlos Ferrero. Albert Costa throughout the
entire slam, especially in the semi’s and the final (forehand) just
blew me/opponents away! Juan Carlos Ferrero’s performance, taking
Agassi’s ground strokes and giving them back harder, same with Safin’s
too, was just incredible to watch.
Nicest Moment of the Tournament
The B Man: The Women’s Final trophy presentation, in which
Venus hammed it up by taking photos of Lil Sis and both finalists
treated the crowd to salutations spoken in French.
Bridgeport Jake: Costa and Corretja practicing on the same side
of the net. If the Sisters did something like that, they'd be
criticized 'til next year.
Yonex Guy: Without a doubt, the ending of the women’s final. To
see two loving, talented, sisters embrace, talk, cry, laugh and wait
for the award presentation had me tingling. This win for Serena and
the world, was a gift to watch. No jumping up and down, running to the
parents box and hugging … blah, blah, blah. It was just pure
satisfaction on her part. Watching Venus run around to get a camera
and asking how to use it, then taking pictures was to me, so human. To
see that love between siblings, and in an independent sport like
tennis as competitors, and now #1 and #2 in the world should go down
in history. Related:
The French had it all. History and redemption were on display
at Roland Garros.
Story.
From special to blah. Two readers weight in.
Story.
Discuss the French Open on our
Discussion
Board
June 11, 2002
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