French Open 2008 (Roland Garros)

By now, everybody knows who won the French Open 2008. Non other than RAFAEL NADAL (clap!clap!). He was in the finals against the great Roger Federer. It was really sad that of all of the major Grand Slam title won by Roger, French Open not in the list. Not gonna talk bout either Roger or Rafa, obviously they are the 2 best players in the world. Just highlighting the outstanding players produced by the tournaments. Outstanding as in these players gave hard time to seeded players and even beat them..and the drums goes to:

GAEL MONFILS

He's a Frenchman born on the 1st September 1986. He ranked as top 50 players in the world. He used to be the world’s No. 1 junior, winning three of four junior Grand Slam events (Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon) in 2004.

This by far was his best performance ever where he reached his first semifinal for the first time in any Grand Slam. On his way he defeated Arnaud Clement (he is one of the best doubles player), Luis Horna, Jurgen Melzer as well as the 28th seed Ivan Ljubicic and the 5th seed David Ferrer who he defeated 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-1. In the semifinals he was defeated in a very closely match by Roger Federer 2-6, 7-5, 3-6 and 5-7. The match was great, both players played really well but u can tell that experience separated them.

His trademarks are ------> obviously his hair and his sliding strokes.

DINARA SAFINA

She is known as the youngest and the only sister of Marat Safin (former world no.1 and two times grand slam champion). She is a singles and doubles player on tour. In 2002 she made it to the top 100 players and broke in top 50 players in 2003. And yet she remained save in that position until the year 2007.

2008 definitely is a good year for Dinara as she was ranked as the no.16 player in the world early of the year. She also became the hottest player that being talked about where she defeated World no.1 and top seed Justine Henin in the Qatar Telecom German Open. Safina managed to battle from being 5–7, 0–2 down to win the match 5–7, 6–3, 6–1. This victory was Safina's career victory over a reigning world No.1, and arguably her biggest victory of her career, considering her opponent and the surface. Justine is the best female player in the clay court. This also made Safina the last player ever to play against and beat Henin before she retired.

Dinara Safina has never exceeded the Quarter Finals round in any Grand Slam in her career. But the 2008 French Open turned it around. She started off the tournament as the 13th seed. In the 4th round , Safina defeated World no.1 Maria Sharapova (she got the title prior to the announcement of Justine Henin's retirement two weeks before the French Open commenced) 6–7, 7–6, 6–2, saving a match point at 5–3 down in the second set, marking her second victory over a World No. 1 in less than two months.

In the quarter-finals, Dinara stunningly battled back from the brink of defeat for a second straight match to earn a place in her first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open, coming from 5–2 down in the second set to defeat fellow Russian, Elena Dementieva 4–6, 7–6, 6–0.

She entered her first grand slam final by defeating another Russian player, the 4th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–3, 6–2 in a one-sided semi-final match at Roland Garros. Despite of having a hot brother like Marat Safin (ni ayat tambah je..hehe), Dinara has defeated all the female Russian players (Maria, Elena & Svetlana) in a Grand Slam Championship. In the final she was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by the 2007 finalist Ana Ivanovic.After Roland Garros, Safina became the only player ranked inside the top 10 in both singles and doubles.