The Ultimate King of Clay's Photographic Journey

Having won his seventh French Open title in eight years, Rafael Nadal has stregthened his credentials as the ultimate king of clay. In a rain delayed final, the Spaniard defeated world number 1, Novak Djokovic, 6-4,6-3,2-6,7-5, denying thus the Serb a career Grand Slam.

Nadal's astonishing 52-1 match record at Roland Garros is probably one of the most amazing achievement in tennis history. Check out photographs below and relive his amazing journey.

ROLAND GARROS 2005: Shortly after celebrating his 19th birthday, Rafael Nadal defeated Argentinean Mariano Puerta 6-7,6-3,6-1,7-5 to clinch his first Grand Slam title. 

ROLAND GARROS 2006: Nadal continued his dominance over the reigning world number 1, Roger Federer, by defeating the Swiss 1-6,6-1,6-4,7-6 to successfully defend his title. 

ROLAND GARROS 2007: The Spaniard once more got the better of Federer, claiming his third successful Parisian trophy with a 6-3,4-6,6-3,6-4 win in the final.

ROLAND GARROS 2008: Nadal registered probably the most straight forward victory over Federer, beating the Swiss 6-3,6-1,6-0 to make it four in a row in Paris.

ROLAND GARROS 2010: After the shock exit the year before, Rafa came back to avenge his loss against Robin Soderling, beating the Sweden 6-4,6-2,6-4 in the final showdown to regain his crown.

ROLAND GARROS 2011: Federer proved he just cannot beat Nadal at the French Open, losing another final to the Spaniard, 7-5,7-6,5-7,6-1.

ROLAND GARROS 2012: Nadal ended a three Grand Slam final losing streak to Djokovic, denying the Serb a career Slam with a 6-4,6-3,2-6,7-5 victory.

photos (top-down / left-right): Reuters, GETTY IMAGES (x14)

Feisty Errani Becomes a Household Name

Before the start of the Roland Garros 2012, Italian Sara Errani was just another talented clay-court player who experienced some success in the lower tier tournaments. She may have compilled a 16 match winning streak earlier this season, but as none of those wins came against top 10 players, she was not among the hot favourites ahead of the French Open. It was all about to change though, as a sensational fortnight established her as a household name in women's tennis.

After a shaky start in her opener, Errani regained her focus to eventually prevail 4-6,6-2,6-2 over Australian Casey Dellacqua. She followed it up with an easy 6-2,6-3 triumph over American Melanie Oudin before scoring one of the biggest wins of her career, beating the rejuvenated former Roland Garros champion,  Ana Ivanovic, 1-6,7-5,6-3. The string of surprises continued and the Italian disposed of yet another opponent with Grand Slam pedigree, storming past Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0,7-5 to book her place in her second consecutive Slam.
While many were expecting her adventure to end there, the feisty Errani had other plans. She played a brilliant tactical match to conquer the latest top 10 addition, German Angelique Kerber, and seal her first semifinal berth. Inspired by Schiavone's story, Sara was relentless in tackling Sam Stosur, the Australian who lost to Francesca in the 2010 final. More determined than ever, the gusty Italian fought for every point and her 'never give up' mentality paid off. After an excruciating three setter she managed to get the better of her opponent, qualifying for a final showdown with Russian Maria Sharapova. She continued thus the Italian tradition in Paris, making it three years in a row that an Italian woman is disputing the singles final.
Tackling an overpowering rival, Errani gave it her all, but it just wasn't enough to deny Maria her career Slam. Although she fell short in her quest of winning the maiden Slam crown, the Italian has plenty of reasons to celebrate her Parisian fortnight. In addition to her outstanding performance in singles, she teamed up with compatriot Roberta Vinci to take home the doubles title. Starting on Monday, she will make her top 10 debut, becoming the third Italian to achieve this feat after Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone.

Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci have quickly become the hottest duo on the WTA tour. The Italians concluded a flawless clay-court season by conquering the biggest trophy of them all, the Roland Garros doubles crown. In the final they beat Russians Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova 4-6,6-4,6-2.

Although she lost to Maria Sharapova, Sara Errani has established herself as one tough ladies, becoming the first player since Kim Clijsters in 2003 to reach both singles and doubles Roland Garros finals.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Spechless Maria Meets Her Idol

In addition to regaining the number 1 spot and completing a career Grand Slam, there was only one thing Maria Sharapova could have wished for after claiming the 2012 French Open title. However, the French organizers made sure the Russian champion was in for an unforgettable day and they brought in a very special guest for the awards ceremony, namely Maria's tennis idol, ex-Yugoslav, Monica Seles. 

The two grand ladies of women's tennis have so much in common that having Monica award the Suzanne Lenglen cup to Maria seemed like the most inspired of choices.

After Martina Hingis handed Azarenka her first Slam in Australia earlier this season, it really was nice to have Monica celebrate such an important milestone in Sharapova's career. The Russian was delighted to share the moment with her idol and declared herself speechless by her performance: "I'm really speechless. It's been such a journey for me to get to this stage," she said during her victory speech on Philippe Chatrier Court. "It took me many years to get to this stage, eight years ago was my breakthrough. I'm so happy to share this moment with you all. I cannot wait to be back. To be here and win this, even if it was my only grand slam, it would be just as special as if it was my fourth."

photo: GETTY IMAGES

The Iron Lady Completes Career Slam

She came into Roland Garros with one thing on her mind: to conquer the crown. While most of her rivals crumbled under pressure, Maria Sharapova kept her composure and, after a fortnight of sensational tennis, she achieved her mission, becoming the 2012 French Open champion.

While many were questioning her ability to perform well on clay, the Russian produced a stunning clay-court campaign this season which saw her collect titles in Stuttgart and Rome, silencing thus some of the critics. Nevertheless, the biggest test was still ahead of her, as she never made it passed the semifinals in Paris. 

Maria was unreachable early on though, dropping just 5 games to reach the last 16th. Things got a bit tigher when trying to secure a quarterfinal berth, as she had to overcome what ended up being her toughest challenge, i.e. the stiff resistence of Czech Klara Zakopalova, the only player who managed to 'steal' her a set. It was game on from there onwards though, as Sharapova brough her A-level when it mattered most, easily disposing the likes of Kaia Kanepi in the quarterfinals and Petra Kvitova in the semis. 

Having secured a final showdown with Italian sensation, Sara Errani, the Russian sealed her return to the top of the rankings, as she is set to become the new number 1 as of Monday, June 11th. Nevertheless, never one to settle for less, Sharapova just couldn't let such an opportunity go by. Fuelled by her immense determination, she overpowered Errani in a one-sided encounter, obtaining one of the sweetest victories of her career and completing thus her Grand Slam collection.

Having emerged on the scene so early with ther sensational Wimbledon triumph at the age of 16th, Maria Sharapova has definitely had her share of trials and tribulations. However, she managed to bounce back after the major shoulder injury that threatened to end her career and, today, she has fully regained her place atop of the women's tennis. With a new Slam and the number 1 position under her belt, the Russian looks set to add many more successes in the years to come.

If on court she is the epitome of focus and determination, after sealing the French Open title, the Russian let out all her emotion. She celebrated her success like a genuine champion, charmed the crowd with her French and looked very much like the happiest woman on the WTA tour.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Un Scoop de la Mode Parisienne

Every spring the tennis elite dresses up for the most glamorous of the Slams, as the players take the court to battle it out for the ultimate claycourt glory, the French Open title. Compared to last year, this time around the tennis stars leaved up to the expectations and put on a bright, fresh, cool, vibrant fashion display that ignited the Roland Garros spectacle. There were many great outfits, starting with the likes of Venus Williams and Roger Federer and finishing with Victoria Azarenka or Gilles Simon. Check out the countdown below:

Venus Williams - EleVen

Although less scandalous than the outfit she wore last year, Venus stole the show once again with her cool EleVen dress. Her Parisian adventure might have ended prematurely in the second round, but the unique design of her garment made her stand out from the crowd. For me she was the fashion highlight of the fortnight, stregthening thus her credentials as the fashion queen of the tennis court. Click here to read more about her latest collection.

Roger Federer - NIKE RF

In the men's camp, Roger Federer continued his style dominance, as he looked imperial in an all black ensemble. Even though he looked utterly elegant, the Swiss superstar retained his cool, edgy side with some exquisite touches of neon yellow, the it colour of the moment. For the second year running, Roger was the best dressed male tennis player of the Open. Click here to see what he wore last year.

Victoria Azarenka - NIKE

The world number, Victoria Azarenka, has been scoring high in the fashion department recently, so it was no surprise to see her shine brightly in Paris. Wearing a really cool pink-orange dress, Victoria looked fresh, vibrant and fierce, perfectly portraying the competitor she is. What I admire most about the Belorussian is the fact that, although she does not benefit from an exclusive clothing line, she always distinguishes herself from the rest of the Nike field, a fashion must for the number 1 ranked player.

Sabine Lisicki - NIKE

Lucie Safarova - NIKE

Maria Sharapova - NIKE Maria Sharapova Group

Some of Sharapova's more memorable looks came in Paris, so I was a bit disappointed by the rather dull dress she chose this year. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with it, but compared to the spectacular yellow dress she wore last year or the sheer garments she showcased in past seasons, this one reveals an inspiration shortage. If she wants to retain her fashion credentials, she'd better come up with something exciting soon; there have been some heavy misses from her side lately.

Serena Williams - NIKE Soar Group

When picking her outfit, Serena Williams thought she was in for yet another memorable Parisian fortnight. However, as sometimes the case, life throws at you a shocker at the most surprising of times.  This is exactly what happened to Serena this year, as the American suffered a suprising first round defeat to Virginie Razzano. It could be that pistachio is not quite her lucky colour. 

Na Li - NIKE

Julia Goerges- NIKE

Petra Kvitova - NIKE

Julia Goerges and Petra Kvitova are both Nike ambassadors and they very often dress alike. It happened again at the French Open and there's nothing extremely wrong with this, except there's a huge difference between the two: Julia is a tennis hottie, while Petra isn't. I just cannot but be scandalized by Kvitova's look. I don't understand why someone who owns something that resembles a 'beer belly' would be so keen in showing it to the world. A loose blouse would definitely do the trick, so, Petra, maybe you start consider revising your wardrobe.

Rafael Nadal - NIKE Rafa Finals Clay Crew

Rafael Nadal might be the main contestant for the RG crown, but the Spaniard trails arch-rival Federer when it comes to fashion. Nothing wrong with his outfit though. He continued the Nike trend wearing a vibrant pink T-shirt, well accessorized with a white pair of shorts and a black headband.

Ana Ivanovic - Adidas AdiZero

There weren't many novelties in the Adidas camp. Ana Ivanovic launched the latest AdiZero collection a few weeks ago, so there wasn't any surprise regarding her outfit for the 2012 French Open. The mint-red colour combination makes a bold statement and it suits Ana's dark skin tone perfectly. However, when wore by a blonde player, the contrast disappears, the colours look washed up and the clothes lose their power.

Caroline Wozniacki - Adidas by Stella McCartney

The last few months have been really tough for Caroline Wozniacki. Not only did she lose her number 1 ranking, but it seems she also lost her fashion sense. After the horrible waffles dress she wore last season, this year she showcased a rather dull, though loud coloured outfit. The most annoying thing about it was the mismatch between the bright yellow of the skirt and the orangish yellow of the top. I am really disappointed by Stella McCartney's judgement on this one.

Maria Kirilenko - Adidas AdiPure

Flavia Pennetta - Adidas AdiPure

The AdiPure ambassadors, Maria Kirilenko and Flavia Pennetta, followed on Wozniacki's footsteps and  selected yellow. Although here the damage is less severe and both of these player can wear almost anything and still look great, I was not at all impressed by the yellow-red-blue combination. It's too Romanian-flag-like for me and I wouldn't advise on putting these three colours together.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - Adidas AdiZero

Fernando Verdasco - Adidas AdiZero 

Gilles Simon - AdiPure

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Fernando Verdasco looked stunning in the latest AdiZero garments, while Gilles Simon was at his elegant best in AdiPure. A great plus for the turquoise in combination with vibrant orange, it really lights up the court. 

Jelena Jankovic - FILA

Svetlana Kuznetsova - FILA

Janko Tipsarevic - FILA

As I said a couple of times before, although they are still a long way from reaching fashion Sunnyland, both Svetlana Kuznetsova and fashionista-wannabe Jelena Jankovic have recorded a considerable fashion progress lately. While the Russian still struggles to control her wild side (see the strange hairdo), Jankovic is finally learning the basic fashion rule: less is more. 

Completing Fila's recently assembled A-Team is Janko Tipsarevic. The Serbian kept true to his unconventional self wearing a rather busy b&w ensemble. I overall like the use of orange, but I would remove the small stripes, especially on the black background.

Marion Bartoli - LOTTO

Agnieszka Radwanska - LOTTO

Francesca Schiavone - LOTTO

I am not a Lotto fan, but I have to give them credit this time around. While Agnieszka Radwanska looked stunning in the 'little white dress', Francesca Schiavone checked off a rare fashion victory.

Bob & Mike Bryan - K-Swiss

Bethanie Mattek-Sands - UnderArmour

This wouldn't be a genuine fashion scoop without mentioning Bethanie Mattek-Sands. There are no words to describe the American's fashion style, especially after she took her 'Lady Gaga' comparison seriously. There were some changes to her usual repertoire though. Although she kept her signature knee-high socks, she did lose the hockey sticks make-up.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

Mathieu Denies the Marathon Man

In the early 2000s, Paul-Henri Mathieu was one of the leading talents of the French squad. His moment of fame came at Roland Garros, in 2002, when he lost an epic encounter with Andre Agassi after leading by two sets to love. A sensational fortnight later that year, when he captured back-to-back titles at Lyon and Moscow, confirmed his credentials and many were great things for the young Frenchman. However, plagued by injuries, Mathieu struggled to leave up to the expectations. But in 2007, after some dark years, he managed to get his career back on track by claiming clay-court titles at Casablanca and Gstaad. In April 2008, just before reaching his second 4th round at the French Open, he recorded his highest ranking at number 12. Unfortunately though misery struck again and Paul-Henri's career was derailed once more. 

Many thought that this would be the end for the Frenchman, but he refused to give up. After being sidelined by a knee injury all of 2011, Mathieu is currently making another comeback attempt and what better place to relight the fire than Roland Garros, the place dearest to his heart. Being granted a wildcard to enter the main draw, Paul-Henri was determined to make the most of it. After rallied from two sets down in his first-round clash with German Bjorn Phau, he produced a stellar performance to succumb 10th seeded American, John Isner.

Isner has had some solid results on clay this season, especially in the Davis Cup where he recorded a stunning win over Federer, but he was unable to have the last say against his inspired opponent. The Frenchman had to earn it though as after spliting the first four sets, the duo went the distance. The American rose to prominence after winning the legendary encounter with Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set, a match that lasted 11 hours and five minutes over a three-day stretch and went on to become the longest match in Grand Slam, so many were expecting a similar outcome. However, Mathieu had other plans. Supported by a packed Phillippe Chatrier Court, the Frenchman got the crucial point, sealing the victory 17-15 in the decider after 5 hours and 41 minutes of play. 

"Having the opportunity of experiencing such a thing as I did tonight, it's incredible," said an enthusiastic Mathieu. "Playing like this on a big court like this is fantastic, especially after being injured. This is why I fought and tried to come back. It's to have those moments again. I remember Mahut's match, so I just couldn't believe it was over," he continued. "I had match point. It was tough. Every time I needed to concentrate and focus again on my serve, so when the match was over, I had trouble realising it was really over."

The player who once struggled so much to close out matches seems to have found a new mentally strength now. "Before I used to become very tense at the end of a match like this", he admitted. "I have more experience now. But in the fifth set I was always ahead. I was up in the scores and I was serving first so that it was an advantage." He goes on to face the winner of the clash between Spaniard Marcel Granollers and Tunisian Malek Jaziri.

Isner, the Marathon Man of the ATP tour, is surely disappointed with his display. "I escaped a lot today; it could have been worse," he said referring to the fact that he saved 20 of 24 break points faced on serve. "But I just didn't get it done. I felt like I got caught in patterns that weren't ideal for me. I was hitting every return to his backhand and he was stepping up and running me around. I'm not gonna win the point when I'm running side to side."
Mathieu's success comes one day after Razzano's magnificent triumph over Serena Williams, giving the French crowd yet another reason to cheer about at this year's Roland Garros. 

After 5 hours and 41 minutes of play, Paul-Henri Mathieu obtained one of the biggest wins of his career stunning 10th seeded American, John Isner in front of the partisan crowd.

photos: GETTY IMAGES