French Open 2011: Rafael Nadal Takes Second Set, Leads Roger Federer 2-0

Results from Roland Garros as the French Open 2011 men’s final plays out in Paris.

Rafael Nadal leads Roger Federer, 7-5 7-6. Acing Nadal on point after point would be a great strategy for Federer at this point, as it would prevent him from making anymore boneheaded mistakes on return, but for much of the second set his touch seemed to have deserted him. The crowd seems to be behind him whenever he makes a feint at a comeback, as though they’re rooting to stay here all day, and why not? This match is one game into the third set and nearing the two and a half hour mark.

Federer’s not out of this, but he’s very, very down. After a very brief rain delay at deuce with Nadal up 5-4, the two combatants retook the court with no warmup, and with the graceful backwards lobs and uncannily balletic motions we’ve come to gawk at, Federer took what would have been Nadal’s set point, won a shutout eleventh game, and forced a tiebreak. (Which, of course, is about where all his composure appears to have deserted him.)

Live scoring updates for this match are available on Roland Garros’ official website. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more updates from the 2011 French Open men’s final.