Here's looking at you, Fed

It is heartbreaking to watch a magician suddenly lose his art. There he comes charging to the net, only to miss a volley he would have usually aced with his eyes shut. The perfect forehand goes just long, the incredible angle has disappeared. The razor sharp serve is uncharacteristically vulnerable. Not just once, but again and again. The proud shoulders droop, the head nods increasingly in desperation. The heart still hasn't lost the fight, but the body has lost the midas touch.

When the agony ends, as end it must, the winner is more apologetic than ecstatic. For he recognizes that in his victory he has humbled, maybe even humililated, a master.

Today Rafa won a record 4th French Open, defeating The Great Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.

During the final, ignoble set, I mailed to a dear friend telling her how disappointed I was. Here is what she replied:

What is to separate this man from the Gods? Every once a year he is confronted with his mortality and to the fact that there is one aspect of his prowess that one other human is better at, thanks to Nadal.

The wisdom of her words made me think - what about Rafa? Everyone talks about Roger Federer and how Roland Garros would be the crowning jewel in his coronation as the Greatest Tennis Player Ever (if not the greatest athlete ever). We all sympathize with TGF for being repeatedly denied the only major title to elude him for four successive years by this ONE man (for everyone acknowledges that were it not for this kid from Mallorca, Pete's 14 and Andre's Slam would have been conquered years ago). The French crowds, delighted with TGF's charm and fluency in their language, have unsuccessfully rallied behind him against the defending champion. But had it not been for Fed, Rafa would have undoubtedly been Numero Uno in men's tennis. For now, however, he has to stay content with winning at Roland Garros and being the best Number Two ever in men's tennis.

So in a way, they each take away from the other, and in that taking away, add to each other's greatness. Their evident mutual respect and affection only adds to the allure of this great rivalry. Shakespeare could not have scripted this better - for in the decades to come, no mention of The Great Roger Federer will be complete without naming Rafael Nadal. And this is how it is, this is how it should be.

Watch Agneiszka Radwanska

Justine Henin's untimely exit from women's tennis, though unfortunate, has made the women's draw at Roland Garros much more exciting. The Williams sisters, true to their erratically scintillating form, have lost to rookies. Sharapova seems to have lost the razor sharp brilliance she displayed in Melbourne, and has relied more on her shrieking grunts than her shot making to get through to the 4th round. Ivanovic and Jankovic have been consistent, but frankly, they present minimal threat to Henin-Williams-Sharapova on a good day. Kuznetsova, Dementieva, Chakvetadze & Safina can always spring a surprise, but the greatest thrills have come from watching the under-19's in the main draw.

I haven't caught too many of the matches, but two girls I am really impressed with are Suarez Navarro and Agneiszka Radwanska. I saw parts of just one match of the former - the 4th round match against Penetta (who got rid of Venus Williams in the 3rd round). S Navarro boundless energy reminds you of Sanchez Vicario, but she is fitter and much more lethal - with a one handed backhand that makes you wish she would play against Justine Henin, the queen of the single handed backhand. Will Suarez Navarro go on to become a Djokovic, or remain a one Grand Slam wonder aka Tsonga? - only time will tell.

But the one who really caught my attention is 19 year old Agneiszka Radwanska, voted the emerging player of the WTA tour in 2007. Yes, she lost in straight sets to Jelena Jankovic in the 4th round, but did she give Jelena a scare! Radwanska has a good game of course, but what gives her an edge over her contemporaries is her tenacity, level headedness and surprising physical stamina, her frail frame notwithstanding. She just did not give up against Jankovic, keeping her kool and saving several match points to force the second set into the tie breaker. Had Radwanska made better use of her serve, Jelena would have been under serious threat of not making the QF's.

Fortunately, Radwanska has time on her side, and if she gets the right guidance and manages to stay fit, we'll surely see much more of her on the women's tour in the later rounds.