French Open: Finals

The Nadal/Djokovic semifinal did not disappoint as the king of clay survived a 4.5 hour match to win 9-7 in the 5th.  He'll meet a man playing in his first career final, who hasn't lost a set in the tournament and easily brushed aside the local boy.

3) Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 4) David Ferrer (ESP)

Ferrer becomes the first player not among the big 4 to reach a major since Berdych at '10 Wimbledon.  This is the meeting of players from the same country since Sampras beat Agassi at '02 US Open and the first pair of Spaniards since the '02 French Open (Costa def. Ferrero).

We've been through this head-to-head some recently due to their meetings in Madrid and Rome, but leads 19-4 and it is 16-1 Nadal on clay.  However, Ferrer took sets off Nadal in both Madrid and Rome and very nearly beat him in Madrid.  Ferrer's only clay win over Nadal was their first meeting, way back at '04 Stuttgart.  Overall Rafa is ahead 41-14 is sets and Ferrer has only 6 sets on clay including his 2 in his lone, which means in his 16 losses he has been straight setted 12 times.

Even with the long match Rafa played, the form Ferrer is in, and their recent matches, it is hard to imagine Ferrer winning this match.  It would be one of the biggest upsets of major finals history.  I'll give the indefatigable Ferrer a set, but I'm going with Nadal in 4.

Nadal: 17th major final (8th at the FO), 11-5 record (7-0), last '12 French Open

Ferrer: 1st major final

-Since Ferrer has made it this far, he will carry the no. 4 ranking out of Paris and toward England.  However, do to Wimbledon's special seeding, Nadal may still able to take the #4 seed at Wimbledon.  There's also Halle and Queen's to play too.

I know Serena is in good form, but I did not expect the beatdown she put on Errani on Thursday, dropping just one game.  The other semi, however, resulted in a good match where Sharapova outlasted Azarenka 6-4 in the 3rd.

1) Serena Williams (USA) vs. 2) Maria Sharapova (RUS)

Since I've been closely following tennis (2009) the top two seeds have never met in a major final.  I read the last time it occurred at the French Open was '95 but in a quick search I never found the seeding of the finals participants, so I can't say exactly when this last happened.

It is well known story that Serena owns Sharapova save those 2 matches in 2004 - nearly 9 years ago, at Wimbledon and the tour championships.  Serena leads the head-to-head 13-2 and the American is 3-0 against her on clay ('08 Charleston, '12/'13 Madrid).  In sets Serena leads 27-7 which means Sharapova has only 3 sets in her 13 losses.  One of those just came in Madrid a couple months and this is Sharapova's best surface in her post-surgery career.

Part of me thinks Sharapova might have a chance to reverse the head-to-head, she is the defending champion, but Serena this year has been a whole different animal, and I can't see her losing this match.  I'm going with Williams something like 6-3 6-4.  That said, I wouldn't be shocked if Sharapova makes a match of it or even wins, but it's unlikely

Serena: 20th major final (2nd at the FO), 15-4 record (1-0), last '12 US Open

Sharapova: 8th major final (2nd at the FO), 4-3 record (1-0), last '12 French Open

-Sharapova must win the title to take no. 2 from Azarenka, assuring she'd be the opposite side of the draw as Serena.