s'il vous plait

Coming back after such a long hiatus asked for a french riposte. Not because the Gallic race makes me stand and stare in awe or that they managed to hold off the three lions the other night in the Euro clash. Its just because the Parisian red dirt threw up a treat so delectable that I coundn't help but serve an ode to the French way of relishing everything fine. Roland Garros has not been one of my favorite grand slams. It puts more emphasis on the physicality of the proponents than the other three and that's not as pleasing to the eyes as a volley on the green grass of SW19 is. Another mighty reason for my dislike may be the fact that my beloved Fed has been fended off so many times by the indomitable Majorcan here that the clay reminds me of my unforgiving struggles with Engineering drawing. Trying hard and getting there but always pipped at the post. This was the first time I ever wished the GOAT didn't win his semi-final against the Djoker. It was clear as a crystal that with Rafa in the form that he was, the only man in the universe to be able to come close to beating him would be Nole. Couldn't bear to see that hooked forehand flying high to Roger's one handed back hand the the ball either denting the net or falling short to be sent roaring at an angle that defies geometry. The final did start on a bleak note (albeit only for people like me who hoped to see some new hands on the three muskuteers cup....and to see all four majors in the very same hands). If spirit and will don't define the world number two, I don't know what does. The top spin that takes the ball so high up the net only to swerve back in like it had a mind of it own is a sight that can send down shivers down the spine of opponents and goose bumps in the stomachs of viewers in equal measure. And then there was Novak, two sets down and trailing by a couple of games, the end looked nigh. I don't think anybody has take 8 games in a row from Nadal in history but the world number one showed us what he is made of. It served only as a tiny hurdle in the way of the man who is nothing short of a one man Spanish armada but it did show us that Novak is getting there....just like Rafa did to Roger at Wimbledon. Here's raising a toast to many such battles and praying that we do see a deciding set the next time around.