Australian Open 2010: Dream Final off as Rafa Limps Out of Melbourne

Now this one is surely going to disaapoint alot of people who were eagerly anticipating another summit clash between the Swiss Maestro and his nemesis in the Grand Slam Finals. Andy Murray of Britain was up 2 sets to nil and 3-0 in third set when Defending Champion Nadal called it Quits at 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 3-0. The QF match between the two was halted when Rafa took a medical time out in the second game of third set to attain to his knee but was unable to carry on for long.

Nadal vs. Federer

Painful it was even for viewers to see the Spanish Gladiator undone by injury once again. Nadal has missed several months of action last season because of knee and abdominal issues and was unable to defend his title at Wimbledon. He has not been the same potent force ever since his return. Ironically the hall mark of his game has been his perseverence. He would hit hard, run hard, would wear down his opponent. And that precisely makes it more difficlut to digest .

After winning the Last year French open , Federer ,the winner of 15 Grand Slam Titles has finally put the monkey off his back. Many legendary players in past failed to complete the ‘Career Grand Slam’. Sampras, that champ of an era just before Roger would know the pain of never winning the French Open. Roger has set a record which would be tough to beat by current and future generations. Here’s a man who achieved everything possible in Tennis. He can go easy with his tennis career any time now and be content. But is He really? Will it not be his secret desire to beat Nadal in another Grand Slam Final apart from Wimbeldon once . If for nothing else just to prove to himself that he does not have a mental block when he palys the Spaniard in the Slam finals.Before he decides to give more time to his young family, will he not like another epic Final with Nadal and to come up tops this time. Its the intense rivalry like this that makes Tennis or for that matter any Sport so beautiful to watch. Give me a Sampras- Agassy, Seles-Graf, Roger-Nadal game anyday.

The likes of Murray, Novak, Del Porto,Davydenko are an exciting bunch of players. with Rafa’s injuries and Roger getting off color once too often now, the Men’s tornaments are wide open nowadays. With Murray , Novak, still in fray its still early to predict . But that this years final will miss the drama,thrill and romance of the 2009 Australian Open final is a fact no one will deny. Last year Epic final in Melbourne like that greatest finals of all time ,Wimbeldon 2008 will remain etched in our memories for a long long time.

Federer like all Tennis Fans will have to wait till next open. Hopefully as and when Nadal comes back the rivalry will resume from the same point it was left off last January. It would be the best thing for the game too.