Rafa is a 6-Time Champion, Li is the 1st for Asia

Rafael Nadal has moved to 7th on the list of slam champions with 10 career.  He also ties Bjorn Borg for the most French Open crown with 6 titles at the Stade Roland Garros.  He defeated Roger Federer in a very tightly contested 4 set match (picked correctly by me), 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1.  I watched the majority of this match and it was Nadal's great defense that kept him in points long enough for him to stroke a winner or get an error from the Swiss.  This was especially evident when he broke serve in the first set where Roger was serving for that set.  Federer's crosscourt backhands in this match would have winners against almost all other players, or even against Nadal on other surfaces, but Rafa showed why he is indeed the king of clay.  I appreciated the fight in Federer as he clawed back from break deficits in the second and third sets.  We are left only wonder what would have happened if the Swiss could have successfully served out the first set.  This becomes another chapter in Roger-Rafa lore, and I only hope we see still another in four weeks time.

'05 French Open
'06 French Open
'07 French Open
'08 French Open
'08 Wimbledon
'09 Aussie Open
'10 French Open
'10 Wimbledon
'10 US Open
'11 French Open

After being the first Asian to reach a singles slam final in Australia, Na Li broke through against Francesca Schiavone to win a slam from China, and for Asia in general, 6-4, 7-6.  Li's shots were deep enough to keep Schiavone from playing her variety show and on defense.  Then she won most of the big points.  She did squander her second set lead, but then saved additional break points and blew Schiavone out in the tiebreak.  Last year, this was supposed a similar story, but Stosur didn't step to the plate the way Li did.  She took control early and then fought off a late challenge from the Italian.  She becomes the fourth different French Open champion in the post-Henin era.  She took advantage in the "wide open" Aussie Open earlier this year, and then did so again on the clay, only this time she is the champion.

'11 French Open