French Open final suspended due to rain with Nadal ahead

The French Open men's singles final
between Rafael Nadal and old rival Roger
Federer was suspended because of rain
with the Spanish top seed leading 7-5 7-6
on Sunday. Play had lasted one hour 55
minutes when rain began to fall for the first
time in the two-week tournament to send
the players
back to the locker room.
Reigning champion Nadal was outplayed for
seven games as he fell 5-2 behind but reeled
off five games in a row, including saving a
set point, as he bids to equal Bjorn Borg's
record.
Federer, who won the last of his 16 grand
slam titles at the 2010 Australian Open,
started with a confident service game on a
humid day on court Philippe Chatrier.
Playing all-out attack Federer snatched his
opponent's serve on his fourth opportunity
when Nadal surprisingly spun a short
forehand into the net.
"Roger, Roger!", the 15,000 centre court
crowd chanted as the 2009 champion
comfortably held for 3-0 courtesy of a
couple of thumping aces.
Looking rattled, Nadal had a blister
powdered by the trainer during the
changeover at 5-2 down.
Third seed Federer came out all guns blazing
in the eighth game, eeking out a set point
on Nadal's serve which the Spaniard saved
as a Federer drop shot floated just wide.
It proved a crucial moment as Nadal
suddenly found his range with his forehand
to get Federer on the run.
Federer's first serve let him down when he
served for the set at 5-3 and Nadal pounced
to break back when Federer netted a volley
when his opponent, at full stretch,
unleashed a stunning forehand.
Hitting deeper and deeper, Nadal broke
again in the 11th game as Federer's level
began to dip and he sealed the first set with
a huge crosscourt forehand winner after 62
minutes.