Heroes and Zeros of Paris

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Heroes and Zeros of Paris

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik

(June 12, 2012)—Heroes and Zeros is Tennis Now's weekly look at the brightest stars of the game—and the biggest flops. This week we’ll look back at the 2012 French Open.

Hero: Rafael Nadal

I wrote extensively in Tennis Now’s French Open wrap-up about how I feel that the greatest player of all-time is Rafael Nadal on clay. That’s a belief I’ve long held, but never has it felt as unassailably correct as it does right now. I mean, look, we’re all out of superlatives right now—it’s been a long clay-court season and the closer we got to the French final the harder it became to find words to accurately describe the legend that ultimately sunk his teeth into the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the seventh time.

There really are no words, just feelings. And right now, the feelings are pretty special.

Hero: Maria Sharapova

I can still vividly recall the immense struggle that Maria Sharapova had against Maria Kirilenko at the 2010 Australian Open, when she nearly overcame 77 unforced errors and 11 double faults in a first-round loss. What I remember most vividly is that I was one of the idiots who was writing her off at that time, saying the game has passed her by, she’s too slow, she’ll struggle without her big serve, etc…

Well, look at Maria Sharapova now. With fortitude, perseverance and a truly overpowering game, she has once again ascended to the WTA’s top ranking and is the 10th player in the history of women’s tennis to own the career Grand Slam.

It just boggles the mind. And I’m not just talking about her ground strokes, which are just plain scary, I’m talking about her determination, her fire, and her legendary lust for battle.

Zero: Victoria Azarenka

I think Vika reached a new low when she told a journalist that she was going to kill herself after her fourth-round loss to Dominika Cibulkova. It’s nothing to joke about. Vika obviously still has some growing up to do. Her game may be world-class, but her attitude has yet to reach that level.

Hero: Brian Baker

I can’t wait to see what Baker has in store for an encore. If if it's half as good as his surprise wildcard run at the French Open, I'm all-in.

Zero: Richard Gasquet

Another perplexing flameout for the enigmatic Frenchman. After jumping out to a lead against Andy Murray in the round of 16, he disappeared down the stretch to lose in four. The French faithful were there to help him get over the hump, but they ended up sitting on their hands because Gasquet couldn't muster the effort to get them involved...

Hero: Nicolas Mahut, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Arnaud Clement, Gilles Simon

All four of these Frenchman produced electric, emotionally rich moments that helped make this decidedly French affair wildly entertaining from first ball to last ball, every day.

Hero: David Goffin

For taking a bow while playing Roger Federer. That was just ballsy.

Zero: Caroline Wozniacki

For insulting an umpire’s intelligence during her loss against Kaia Kanepi. Wozniacki—and anybody else for that matter—has a right to speak their mind about calls, but to insult an umpire with a comment that is totally unrelated to the issue at hand is immature, catty, and unnecessary.

Hero: Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga is a hero for nearly taking out Djokovic in their quarterfinal match with some of the most scintillating tennis of the fortnight. Djokovic is a hero for not letting it happen. The Serb played four brilliant match points against the surging Frenchman and kept his Grand Slam match-winning streak alive all the way until he ran into hero No. 1—Mr. Rafael Nadal—in the final.

Zero: Serena Williams

You lose in the first round, you get a zero, no matter how much we love you.

Hero: Virginie Razzano

You defeat Serena Williams in the first-round of a Grand Slam and you’re a hero. End of story.

Hero: Sara Errani

A Doubles title and a French Open final for the diminutive Italian. What’s not to love about that?

Hero: Mahesh Bhupathi

Bhupathi won his eighth mixed doubles Grand Slam title in Paris, to go along with four men’s doubles titles, and he did it on his birthday. Nice!

Zero: Rain

Just too much rain in Paris in June. Nice if you’re walking along the banks of the Seine with your betrothed after dinner at a fabulous French bistro, but bad if you aim to finish a match without an impromptu delay.

Hero: Tennis Channel

If you live in the States, you know what I’m talking about.

Zero: NBC

Once again those jokers made it hard for me to watch a men’s semifinal live. It’s not cool watching Federer-Djokovic on a stream. Will they ever learn?

Hero: Mats Wilander

For being one of the best broadcasters in the business (his work on Eurosport is pure genius) and for handing Rafa his seventh Coupe des Mousquetaires.

Zero: Bjorn Borg

Really Bjorn, you couldn’t make it? I’m sure there’s a good reason, but until I have a doctor’s note from you, you are getting a zero.