16.46 Rafa lifts his trophy. He's fairly pleased with that.
16.44 David Ferrer up first to receive his first loser's prize off Bolt. He does the famous Bolt pose. Only kidding, he looks crushed and pretty unhappy.
16.41 The two tennis players seem overcome by emotion after that match. Will John Inverdale, ITV's anchor, break down in tears a la the Olympics?
16.38 The French Open trophy will be presented by none other than Olympic and world champion sprinter Usain Bolt. And, remember, if Nadal bites any metal I trash the office and shut down the blog.
16.31 Nadal makes history becoming the first man to win a Grand Slam event on eight occasions.
All-time Grand Slam winners:
Roger Federer 17
Australian Open 4
French Open 1
Wimbledon 7
US Open 5
Peter Sampras 14
Australian Open 2
French Open 0
Wimbledon 7
US Open 5
Roy Emerson 12
Australian Open 6
French Open 2
Wimbledon 2
US Open 2
Rafael Nadal 12
Australian Open 1
French Open 8
Wimbledon 2
US Open 1
16.27 Nadal drops to his knees and holds his head in his hands. He has dug deep to win this and he's releasing the emotions:
16.23 Nadal* 6-3 6-2 6-3 Ferrer
Nadal is serving for the match. Some brief resistance from Ferrer flounders as Nadal races to 40-15 with two championship points. History about to be made.... AND NADAL DOES IT!
16.18 Nadal 6-3 6-2 5-3 Ferrer*
Sublime start to this eighth game of the set from Nadal. He crushes a return shot well beyond Ferrer's reach to put his opponent on the back foot immediately. But Ferrer, the little pony or whatever they call him, still refuses to give up getting the game to 30-30. Nadal's brilliance gets him a break point but a fearless forehand from Ferrer - that really looks to have irked Nadal - brings the game to deuce. Nadal prevails, though and he breaks Ferrer's service to win the game.
16.13 Nadal* 6-3 6-2 4-3 Ferrer
The French crowd partakes an impromptu spell of chanting. DA-VEED! DA-VEED! DA-VEED! It works - he wins the first point. The points come thick and fast and we're left Even Stevens at deuce. But not for long. Rafa wins the last two points in double-quick time to edge ever closer to an eighth title.
16.12 A mail from Alison:
He should come to the Middle East as the Al-jazeera commentators are great. Though of course there are other hazards out here.
16.07 Nadal 6-3 6-2 3-3 Ferrer*
Ferrer with the service. What can he do? Some error-strewn tennis from Ferrer sees Nadal rush into a 30-0 lead before we're treated to some light comic relief courtesy of a hayfever-suffering patron in the crowd. The sneezes delay Ferrer's serve and everyone enjoys a laugh and smile. That lack of Benadryl from the patron seems to have inspired Ferrer as he recovers to hold his serve and win the game. We're level in the set again.
16.05 Nadal* 6-3 6-2 3-2 Ferrer
After a couple of dodgy games we are treated to the return of the Real McRafa, as he wins the most straightforward of games. I think it's possible we are back on the victory march here, folks.
16.04 An enjoyable romp of an email from Richard:
Yep. But I'm losing the will to live thanks to the commentary team on ITV. Your question really ought to be: Are these the most anodyne, utterly dull commentators ever to inhabit a press box anywhere, ever?
Shame there is no way to just get the sound effects and none of their mind-numbing dross... I mean, a piece on racquet stringing? According to Wikipedia, Jim Courier is, and I quote, "...known for having an extensive knowledge of tennis racquets and strings." Well, as Courier is a four time Grand Slam winner, I should bl**dy hope so, but inflict this dross on us?!
And as for the Doughnut of Doom. Oh Lord.
Yours, about to watch Come Dine with Me over on C4...or anything.
15.59 Nadal 6-3 6-2 2-2 Ferrer*
The rain has returned. And play has been stopped. The players aren't off court. But they're not playing. They're sitting under brollies. Then all of a sudden Rafa leaps off his chair and demands they restart play. Ferrer digs his buttocks into his chair and refuses to play. But the umpire relents and we're restarting. Ferrer to serve. Outstanding backhand from Ferrer gets him to 30-0. And that's followed by another that helps him to 40-0. An error from Nadal off the next serve means Ferrer has pulled back to level terms in this set.
15.56 Nadal* 6-3 6-2 2-1 Ferrer
Some welcome resistance from Ferrer as he digs in and wins two rare points. If he's planning on launching a late comeback I think he's left it a dash too late. Just saying. But I think we can say that there's still (just about) life in this final as Ferrer supplements those earlier points with two more to take the game. Broadcasters cut to that suit with the radio again as fears over rain return. Brollies are well and truly up at Rolland Garros.
15.55 Nadal 6-3 6-2 2-0 Ferrer*
More pain for Ferrer as Nadal cruises to another staightforward game victory.
15.49 Nadal* 6-3 6-2 1-0 Ferrer
I'm a big fan of Nadal's trainers. Anyone else like them? Can you wear them as general leisure shoes...or do you actually have to play tennis in them? Raaaa-fa (I'm pronouncing it like an American now) with another sublime spot of tennis to absolutely walk that game. He's on the victory march! Here's a pic of that flare from earlier:
15.46 Nadal 6-3 6-2 Ferrer*
You know those games where Nadal is just completely unplayable and cruises to victory in the blink of an eye. That was one of them. Nadal wins the second set.
15.44 Look who it is! Bet he wishes he was in London though:
15.39 Nadal* 6-3 5-2 Ferrer
Nadal serving for the second set but before he can get round to it the security are thrown into action as a man with a lit red flare comes onto the court! DRAMA! He's hauled off the court immediately by security but there's clearly a lot of idiotic protesters out in the French capital today. The flare-wielding protester seems to have put Nadal off his game and he slumps to 15-40 down off his own serve. Could that barmy protester have inadvertently aided Ferrer? Yes! He wins the game.
15.30 Nadal 6-3 5-1 Ferrer*
There's significantly less umbrellas up now. But still quite a few ponchos, and fully-done-up macintoshes. Go figure. "Ferrer is coming hard for him," says Courier. Haha. The game is momentarily disrupted as two protesters raising placards related to "children's rights" are removed from the grandstand for excessive heckling. Are Nadal and Ferrer anti-children's rights? Back to the tennis. And Nadal has two break points. Ferrer pulls it back to deuce. Feels like now or never for the little guy. And it will probably be never! Nadal breaks Ferrer's serve and takes the game.
15.18 Nadal* 6-3 4-1 Ferrer
"We all have our routines at the start of the working day," says commentator Mullins in reference to Nadal and his superstitions. Mail me with your routines at the start of the working day. Back to the tennis, meanwhile, and Ferrer has two break points. Ah, make that one break point. Make that no break points. Commentator Mullins says of Ferrer "they call him the 'Little Terrier'. He's an enormous warrior". Can you be both a cute little dog and an enormous warrior? If so, I want photographic evidence. This game is too-ing and fro-ing. This game is too-ing and fro-ing until Nadal makes an intervention that you feel could kill off Ferrer, fully crush his morale. A 29-shot rally ends with a Nadal forehand to move the game back to deuce. And from deuce comes advantage, and then, welll you know the rest.....Nadal in full control.
15.09 Nadal 6-3 3-1 Ferrer*
The rain continues to fall and the broadcasters keep cutting to some suit, who is holding a radio to his ear. I assume said suit makes a decision about whether the players go off for rain. I really hope they don't. I have beers to drink at home and the New Girl season two box-set to watch. Plus it's always jolly enjoyable to see a dominant sportsperson drub their opponent. The official French Open feed has described the rain as "light drizzle" but I see many, many umbrellas open in the stands:
Great work from Ferrer as he holds his serve and wins his first game for some time. Not over yet. (Legal disclaimer: may be over but, heck, he's got to win some, right?)
15.07 I've just seen an extraordinary stat that claims Nadal is 69-0 when winning 1st set on clay. Doesn't bode well for Ferrer.
15.06 Nadal* 6-3 3-0 Ferrer
There's rain falling. Will this force Nadal into fifth gear? It looks that way. I look down at my keyboard for five seconds and Nadal has already raced into a 40-0 lead in this game. And that's game. He's pulling away from Ferrer.
15.02 Nadal 6-3 2-0 Ferrer*
Nadal is stepping on the gas in this match. A decent ding-dong gets the game to 30-all until Nadal produces an epic backhand that moves so fast, and so accurately that Ferrer has no chance to even move an inch before it clatters the clay and bounces out of reach. Nadal breaks for the game. He wants this done before the rain.
People whinge about female grunters in elite-level tennis but, crikey, these two fellas make a lot of noise. Something I really don't trust about grunters. Deserves mockery:
15.01 Can we swap, Mick?
14.55 Nadal* 6-3 1-0 Ferrer
Right, let's get on with the second set. Plain sailing for Rafa? Nah uh! Ferrer's out of the traps with two quick-fire points that show this l'il guy isn't out of this yet. I forgot to add that that last set was the first one Ferrer had lost all tournament. Reality check. Ferrer has break point, which seems to instantly spark Nadal into action. He enters the Matrix (my way of describing a period of deep concentration) and comes out the other side with advantage. Ferrer drops a backhand into the net and that's Rafa off the mark in this set.
14.50 Nadal 6 - Ferrer* 3
Ferrer doesn't win that many points off his first serve, which isn't great considering he's completing 70 per cent of his first serves. Extra evidence supplied from the first point of this game that Nadal wins off his compatriot's first serve. Two set points for Nadal...... And there it is!! Game and set Nadal!
14.42 Nadal* 5 - Ferrer 3
Ferrer is so darn cute plucky. He's received a couple of blows but he always dusts himself off and gets back to work with a positive attitude. He begins this game by nicking a point off Rafa. There are some signs of openings in the game, some little glimpses of light. But then big ol' Rafa comes along and shuts them down. Until..........deuce! Well done, David! Masterful shot that leaves Nadal flat-footed and unable to cover the ground in time. Meanwhile The Sunday Telegraph gets a shout-out on air from commentator Nick Mullins. Woo. Back to the tennis and a pinpoint serve on deuce hands Nadal a game point. And there it is! An ace! And a topsy-turvy game goes the way of Nadal.
A mail from Ben:
Too easy. Rafa owns this court
14.37 Nadal 4 - Ferrer* 3
For a wee lad he really moves around the court, does Ferrer. He strains every sinew to slam the ball beyond Nadal's reach for the first point of the game. You can't help but like Ferrer. The little man that did. Bless him. But then Rafa goes and makes it harder for him by unleashing his fearsome forehand. To snatch back three consecutive points. "His volley is a brick," says Courier. Ha. Funny description. Rafa then has two break points but Ferrer digs those child-like nails in to bring it back to deuce. That brief flicker of hope is shut down by Nadal, who wins back-to-back points to take the game.
14.33 Nadal* 3 - Ferrer 3
ITV running Burger King ads in the break between games. I must say I'm more interested in consuming the King of the Day than I am in picking up a racket right now. This is more like the Rafa i know and adore. Serves full of aggression and power and meaningful and menacing returns. If I could post clips of sounds coming from my mouth right now they would resemble purrs. That was a dominant game from Nadal. Simply done.
14.28 Nadal 2 - Ferrer* 3
Jim Courier talking on ITV about a "really interesting piece" they did for the channel with Rafa Nadal's racket stringer. I'm struggling to see how that could possibly be interesting. But anyway, here's some more tennis for ya. Can Ferrer consolidate after that gutsy break? Main commentator Nick Mullins now talking up this stringer feature ITV did. Is this unmissable television? The new Game of Thrones? Cracking work at the baseline, and net, from Ferrer sees him win that game. What have you got in response, Rafa?
14.28 Nadal 2* - Ferrer 2
Now then! Early break for Rafa. Can he pile on the pain? Not necessarily....Ferrer digs and produces some gutsy tennis to leave Rafa rattled. With the scores at 30-all he hits the net with his first serve before another loose mistake - a pulled wide return - leaves Ferrer with a break point. But Ferrer lets him off the hook with a poor second serve and an unforced error to bring it back to deuce. A joyful rally between the two Spaniards follows but it's Ferrer who takes the advantage with a laser-like backhand. And Ferrer breaks! Oh, it's on!
14.20 Nadal 2 - Ferrer 1*
Well done, Rafa. Supreme athleticism. Ferrer's throwing everything at him but he crouches, unfurls one of his Inspector Gadget limbs and clips the ball over the net. This is what you're up against with Nadal. That was a sign of things to come, because Rafa wins two further points off Ferrer's serve to set up two break points. And he breaks on the first opportunity. Some slightly less than brilliant serving from Ferrer instantly punished.
14.17 Nadal 1* - Ferrer 1
Rafa's serve is looking in pretty good condition but that Ferrer fitness that Murray spoke of before this watch is in full evidence as he makes Nadal work for every point. Ah ha, Ferrer wins a point off Rafa. The first point won off an opponent's serve today. Well done, David. You get a gold star. But you don't get the game, I'm afraid.
14.14 Nadal 0 - Ferrer 1*
That's some sharp serving from Ferrer. He wins the first game with the minimum of fuss and receives a bout of warm applause from the Paris crowd for his troubles. First sign that Ferrer has absolutely no intention of rolling over and letting Nadal walk this.
14.08 It's only 16 degrees in Paris. Brrrrr. Wrap up, y'all.
14.06 They've knocked up and we're almost ready to go. Cannot. Wait.
14.02 Rafa just drained a carbohydrate gel pouch. Or was it a Frube?
14.00 The two Spaniards have emerged from their locker rooms. Both wearing headbands, both tanned, both with slick/grease on their hair, and both Spanish. How will we tell them apart?
13.55 Andy Murray has spoken about Nadal:
It's incredible, it's something I don't think we'll see for a very long time in the sport. He's still got a few years left in him so he could go even further. Rafa creates so much angle on that big court that he makes it very tough for Ferrer. But Ferrer's one of the fittest guys on the tour and he'll make Rafa work. But, yes, Rafa is the favourite.
13.45 Just a prior warning. If Nadal so much as puts a trophy or medal anywhere near his teeth today, I'll trash the Telegraph Sport office and shut down the blog. OK?
13.44 Have a stat:
13.42 Oh, look. It's Serena. Just casually posing with a trophy by the Eiffel Tower, while simultaneously exposing her impressive abdominal muscles. Good work, Getty Images.
13.35 Some pre-match thoughts from Simon Briggs:
The bookmakers are quoting Nadal at 8-1 on, which makes him a stronger favourite than Serena Williams was for the women's final on Saturday. But could all this easy assumption turn out to be misguided? Might this be the year when Ferrer shows himself to be more than a pale imitation of his more famous rival?
There are reasons to be cheerful about this match, and to suspect that it will be more than just a casual beat down in the mould of last year's semi-final between these players, which lasted just 106 minutes and finished in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 scoreline. For one thing, Ferrer has a perfect record in this tournament to date – 18 sets won, none lost – where Nadal has come under threat in the majority of his matches. For another, he has spent 11 hours on the court, where Nadal has been out there for 17.
13.24 Liveblog post in which I compare the two players in a head-to-head:
| Rafael Nadal
| David Ferrer
|
|---|
Age
| 27
| 31
|
Matches won
| 19
| 4
|
Career titles
| 56
| 20
|
Grand Slam titles
| 11
| 0
|
French Open titles
| 7
| 0
|
Titles this season
| 6
| 2
|
13.17 I could offer a prediciton, but then who am I? Let's leave it to the experts. Here's Boris Becker's verdict:
13.05 ITV pundit and former world No 1 Jim Courier has some advice for David Ferrer, which he believes could result in an upset if it is strictly followed:
The outsider can win Sunday's final, but only if he finds his best game and avoids Rafa's forehand. Also....
1 Stay high on the court
2 Use the serve
3 Return to the backhand side
4 Keep Nadal out there
13.00 Good afternoon and thanks for joining me for a bout of live tennis. There's two toned, tanned Spaniards, a court covered in clay and the chance of Rafael Nadal setting a new record.
Yes, everyone's favourite Spaniard called Rafa, after Mr Benitez of course, could become the first man to win a Grand Slam singles title eight times. That's pretty good going, don't you think? It will be his 12th overall, and his 13th if you include that shiny gold medal he won, and presumably pretended to bite in a cringeworthy post-match photo shoot, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Hooray for Rafa and hooray for us. We've got an afternoon of tennis ahead of us. And everyone likes tennis, right? RIGHT? Enough rambling. Let's begin the preview part of this liveblog.
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