Stubborn and Stupid

Roger Federer is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport - maybe the greatest.

But yesterday, in committing 59 errors and losing the French Open once again to a gritty, determined and great Rafael Nadal, Federer proved that even the great can be stubborn and stupid.

Everyone, inlcuding Roger, knew what he had to do to win. Serve and volley, chip and charge, hit short, slice and spin, change up and surprise. Basically do what Arthur Ashe did to a heavily favored and totally flustered Jimmy Conners at Wimbledon some years back.

Now, there is no taking away from Nadal's refusal to let Federer do any of those things. BUT!

10 break chances in the first set alone missed. Over and over again, Federer came over the ball on his backhand and over and over again he simply fed the Nadal machine.

Finally, in the second set - the one he won - he started doing what he had to do. And oh look, it worked. But his forehand -one of the best shots in all of tennis - then deserted him and he hit down and into the net repeatedly.

It was not only disappointing to watch, it was maddening.

OK. He's only 25, he is great, and maybe he'll get it together next year at Paris. Meanwhile don't be amazed if Nadal takes Wimbledon.