"Enough" - 4/17/2011

Date: 4/17/2011
Result: Monte-Carlo F, Rafael Nadal def. David Ferrer, 6-4 7-5
Why it matters:
- Ferrer tried his hardest, competed well, went for his shots as often as possible, dictated a lot of rallies, and it wasn't enough.  But he made it competitive.  And that's enough for him at this point.  He hung tough with the so-called king of clay and kept up his own momentum on the surface.  The best possible thing for the long-haul, though maybe not for this final?  He actually didn't play that great, though he competed hard and tried a smart strategy.  If he can more successfully execute his game plan, why can't he be the next one to stop Nadal, maybe even at Roland Garros?  He's fit enough and determined enough.  Don't sleep on Ferrer.
- Rafa looked vulnerable.  He didn't attack enough once again - now two matches in a row without playing the "right" way start-to-finish.  But he did enough.  The problem is he isn't Pete Sampras.  He can't take it easy, win quick serve games, and then look for a single break per set.  He needs to work hard for everything.  If he does "just enough" to win, then it might take 2 hours 14 minutes like this match did.  So in the end it might take more out of him.  He did do enough, though.  And now he's the first player to win a tournament 7 consecutive years and he's got 19 Masters titles.  But I don't imagine that those numbers are "enough" for Nadal.

Honorable Mentions:
- Fed Cup World Group Playoffs, Aleksandra Krunic/Jelena Jankovic def. Magdalena Rybarikova/Daniela Hantuchova - 26 75 97 - I think the way Fed Cup has doubles as the fifth match can sometimes be foolish - no one will stick around for doubles if a team his already clinched the tie - but sometimes creates epic drama. In doubles, it always seems more possible for a dramatic turn of events with fast paced action and quick momentum shifts.  And that is what we saw after the Slovakian duo of Rybarikova and Hantuchova were up 6-2 5-1, and subsequently lost 6 games in a row, blew 3 match points, only to regroup in the 3rd and serve for the match again, then lose once and for all at 9-7.  On paper, Serbia is the more deserving of a spot in the elite World Group - Hantuchova and Cibulkova are good, but Ivanovic and Jankovic have had better careers AND are better currently - and so it's great to see them back next year.  However, the most impressive is that it was Krunic, a player with limited experience, was able to have such a heroic moment.
- Fed Cup World Group Playoffs, Andrea Petkovic def. Melanie Oudin - 62 63 - Petkovic is better than Oudin, and definitely better than Oudin on clay.  As impressive as the US team has been in reaching the last two Fed Cup Finals, they have had a LOT of luck.  Oudin may be a fighter, as is Bethanie Mattek-Sands, but the truth is that the US squad, as is, doesn't deserve to be considered among the top 8 national teams in the world.