French Open 2013: Biggest Surprises From Roland Garros

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 10, 2013

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History was made at the 2013 French Open, and while Rafael Nadal's greatness doesn't come as a surprise, there were a slew of other happenings at Roland Garros that did.

What exactly am I getting at?

Let's take a look.

 

Rafael Nadal's Conditioning vs. Novak Djokovic



It's hard to believe that the semifinals could be more thrilling than the finals of the 2013 French Open, but that was the case in the match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Five months ago, no one would have thought it possible for Nadal to last in a marathon match against the world's No. 1-ranked player. Nadal spent months rehabbing a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee, and even members of his own camp didn't think he was capable of winning his eighth career French Open.

Nadal outlasted the Djoker in a four hour and 47 minute, five-set endurance match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 9-7 (h/t USA Today's Douglas Robson).

We all know how talented Rafa is, but for him to endure such a grueling match and then come back and make quick work of David Ferrer in the final is truly something special.

 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's Upset of Roger Federer



No. 3-ranked Roger Federer was supposed to be in the semifinals alongside Nadal, Djokovic and Ferrer. Instead, the 2009 French Open winner was ousted in the quarterfinals by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.

This is in no way a slap to the face of Tsonga—the rankings say he's the eighth-best tennis player in the world—but Federer just looked old at the 2013 French Open.

If this defeat wasn't shocking enough to you, take a look at this stat from ESPN's Greg Garber that says, "this was Federer's first three-sets-to-love defeat to a player ranked outside the top five in nine years, when he fell to Gustavo Kuerten here in the 2004 third round."
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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