Spanish player Rafael Nadal suffered a crushing defeat by ATP’s #1 player Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, June 3. The win is a career-defining moment for Djokovic, having defeated Nadal on his court of advantage; clay. Swiss player Roger Federer was also eliminated from Roland Garros much earlier than anticipated after an emotional defeat by Swiss player Stan Wawrinka on Tuesday, June 2. Scottish player Andy Murray and Djokovic advance in the 2015 French Open.
Nadal, the King of Clay was dethroned on his court of advantage by top seeded player Djokovic in the Quarterfinals. The two tennis legends met too fast, too soon in Roland Garros. Many fans expected Nadal to carry on to the Finals. Nadal lost 5-7, 3-6, 1-6 in a crushing defeat to Djokovic on Wednesday, June 3 in the Quarterfinals. 28-year-old Nadal is ranked 7th by the ATP. He won 14 Grand Slams in his career. In Round 1, Spanish player Rafael Nadal won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 against French player Quentin Haleys on Tuesday, May 26. In Round 2, he won 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 against Spanish player Nicolas Almagro on Thursday, May 28. In Round 3, he easily won 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 against Russian player Andrey Kuznetsov on Saturday, May 30. In Round 4, he had another easy win, scoring 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 against American Jack Sock on Monday, June 1.
Rafael Nadal playing on the clay courts of Roland Garros on May 2011.
Federer lost his spot to Swiss player Stan Wawrinka in an emotional defeat in the Quarterfinals. He lost 4-6, 3-6, 6-7 to Wawrinka on Tuesday, June 2. 33-year-old Federer is ranked 2nd by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He has won 17 Grand Slams in his career. In Round 1, he won 6-3, 6-3, 0-4 against Colombian player Alejandro Falla on Sunday, May 24. In Round 2, he won 6-2, 7-6, 6-3 against Spanish player Marcel Granollers on Wednesday, May 27. In Round 3, Federer won 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 against Bosnian player Damir Džumhur on Friday, May 29. In Round 4, he won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 against French player Gaël Monfils
Roger Federer wiping away tears and sweat at the French Open on June 2009.
Murray moves up after winning 7-6, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 against Spanish player David Ferrer in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday, June 3. 28-year-old Murray is ranked 3rd by the ATP. He won two Grand Slams in his career. In Round 1, Scottish player Andy Murray won 6-3,6-3,6-1 against Argentine player Facundo Arguello on Monday, May 25. In Round 2, he won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 against Portuguese player Joao Sousa on May 28. In Round 3, he won 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 against Australian player Nick Kyrgios on Saturday, May 30. In Round 4, Murray won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against French player Jérémy Chardy on Monday, June 1.
Djokovic crushed Nadal in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday, June 3. Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 against Nadal, as if he were playing against a mere rookie on the courts. 28-year-old Djokovic is ranked 1st by the ATP. He won eight Grand Slams in his career. In Round 1, Serbian player Novak Djokovic won 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 against Finnish player Jarkko Nieminen on Tuesday, May 26. In Round 2, he won 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 against Luxembourgish player Gilles Muller on Thursday, May 28. In Round 3, he won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against Australian player Thanasi Kokkinakis on Saturday, May 30. In Round 4, he won 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 against French player Richard Gasquet.
Andy Murray celebrates win at French Open on May 2011.
The French Open takes place on clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. Tennis balls on clay courts have a tendency to move slow and bounce high. The French Open is divided into six different categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Singles Final. The prize money for the 2015 French Open is 28,028,600 euros. The winner of the men’s singles wins The Musketeers’ Trophy (La Coupe des Mousquetaires).
