where dreams go to eat dirt

Oh, Roland Garros. I do not love you quite as much as I love Wimbledon, but you have always been second in my favorite Grand Slams.

I like to joke that Roland Garros is where dreams come to die because, really, you can't go to the French Open hoping to achieve/break a record. You can't go in citing it's going to be your biggest win. It's just not done. It never happens (see: Hingis, Sampras, Nadal).

A very long time ago (late 1990's), it was believed that Roland Garros was predictable in two ways: the women who made the finals were always in the top ten, and the men who made the finals were never the men you expect to win.

This year, going into Roland Garros (because deep down I can still channel my inner tennis snob), I already knew Nadal wasn't going to win, simply because everybody expected him to (you kind of have to, when he's won it four consecutive times). Because it would have made him a record breaker, and Roland Garros hates records. It also hates favorites. Paris is where (male) underdogs make their name (for the women it has typically been Melbourne. I don't know why).

When Rafa lost, I was amazed at my own predicting ability (I cared this year. I don't know why). At the moment the path is clear for Federer, but let's not forget that when players upset top seeds, they usually get so inspired and motivated, they sometimes go all the way (see: Krajicek, Wimbledon 1996).

(Sidebar: Yes, I know non-tennis fans or tennis fans who didn't watch before 1999 would have no idea what I'm talking about, but that's what Wikipedia is for.)

I don't know who'll win. Sometimes the player is just naturally talented on clay (Kuerten), sometimes they want it badly enough (Moya), and sometimes luck lends a hand (Agassi).

(Sidebar, 2: Alright. I'm sorry. But I'm not sold on Andre's win.)

And the women? I don't care (but, oh, you should've seen me at the height of my tennis obsession. I hated whomever beat my favorite players). As long as it's not a Williams, I'm fine.

...But who the heck are the women playing the doubles final? Ruano Pascual is still playing? Really?
Well, kudos to her for beating the tennis ageist system, then.