Remember Paris, 2006: Kuerten On Nadal's First Defence

Final, d. Federer 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4)

Rafael Nadal returned to Paris in 2006 looking to become the first player to successfully defend the Roland Garros title since Gustavo Kuerten in 2000-01.

The popular Brazilian had unexpectedly won the clay-court major for the first time as a 20 year old in 1997, in what was actually his first tour-level final, but fell to Marat Safin in the second round the following year.

On his 2001 defence, Kuerten entered as the World No. 1 and with 13 titles to his name, including the previous season’s Tennis Masters Cup. “I think that the difficulty is directly linked with the experience, especially in a Grand Slam,” he says of the difference between his two repeat bids. “In the ‘97-98 campaigns I didn’t have the sensation to deal with the title, to become a champion. In 2000-01, these characteristics had blossomed.”

Although he wouldn’t turn 20 until the end of Roland Garros that year, Nadal already showed those champion’s characteristics. The Spaniard had firmly established his foothold at No. 2 in the world and, in impressive fashion, as the man to beat on clay. His winning streak on the surface going into Paris stood at 53 matches - tying the record established by Guillermo Vilas 29 years earlier.

“He always seemed to me a spectacular tennis player; he is able to deal with competitiveness with maturity,” says Kuerten of Nadal’s ability to handle the added pressure of being the defending champion for the first time. “That's how Nadal won the tournament.” 

Nadal eclipsed Vilas’ clay-court record with his straight-sets win over Robin Soderling in the first round, then defeated Kevin Kim, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic and Ivan Ljubicic to set up the highly anticipated Roger Federer showdown in the final.

The Swiss had not lost in seven Grand Slam finals up to that point, and was chasing history, attempting to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles at the same time. His last loss in Grand Slam action had come against Nadal in the previous year’s semi-finals. Nadal, in fact, had won their past four meetings, including the two clay-court finals in Monte-Carlo and Rome.

“I always watched the challenges between Nadal and Federer, considering Nadal as the favourite,” admits Kuerten.

Nadal’s title hopes appeared in danger early in the match as he dropped the first five games in a 1-6 first set, his worst set loss at Roland Garros to this day. He quickly turned the match around, coming up with his own 6-1 set to seize the momentum. He suffered a hiccup as he served for the victory at 5-4 in the fourth set, but held his nerve in the tie-break to become the youngest back-to-back Roland Garros champion since Bjorn Borg in 1974-75.

“I consider it a typical final between two great champions,” says Kuerten. “That’s what a Grand Slam allows, a time for tennis players to find solutions. Nadal felt comfortable on the court; he found a formula to defeat Federer.”

REMEMBER PARIS
2005: Chang On The First Triumph
2006: Kuerten On Being Defending Champion
2007: Moya On Playing Nadal
2008: Gilbert On A Dominant Performance
2010: Wilander On A Momentous Win
2011: Agassi On Nadal's Clay Form

2012 Tribute: Roland Garros Is Rafa's House