From Paris to London
Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay (right) and Roger Federer, the King of Grass (left) battle it out in an exhibition match on a customized half-grass, half-clay court in the Balearic Islands.
The 2010 Men’s French Open final featured the world’s #2 ranked player and four time Roland Garros champion, Rafael Nadal. His opponent, the all-to-familiar Robin Soderling, whom which Nadal has sparked an unlikely rivalry with over the years, came to fruition once again.
In 2008, they battled at Wimbledon in a 5-set match that saw taunting from both players, and in 2009 Soderling ousted Nadal in Paris for Rafa’s first and only French Open loss. So when Nadal dropped to the clay in dramatic style after handily taking care of Soderling in straight sets on Sunday morning, there was no doubt in the Spaniard’s mind that he was back on top.
Nadal’s 5th French Open title allowed him to move past Roger Federer and claim the world’s #1 ranking, setting up a clash of the past two Wimbledon champions in Federer and Nadal two weeks away on the grass courts in London. Additionally, Nadal, with his 7th major title, moved into a tie (12th place all-time) with American great John McEnroe.
For all tennis fans, the six weeks from the middle of May until the end of June are the most exciting time of the season. As one grand slam ends in Paris, the next begins two weeks later on the grass courts at Wimbledon. Set only a few miles south of the London, the Championships Wimbledon is a perfect getaway for any sports fan.
Many fans consider the budding rivalry between Federer and Nadal to be the greatest in sports, and most of their epic clashes have come at Wimbledon over the past few years. After Federer took the season’s first grand slam in Australia and Nadal winning in Paris, the anticipation and excitement surrounding this year’s Wimbledon is off the charts. Coupled with the World Cup set to start Friday, the display of pride and spirit throughout England will be at an all-time high as two of the country’s most exciting sporting events are set to commence.
Not only does the beginning of June signal a chance in the sports atmosphere in London, but it also signals the changing of seasons. As the cold winter ends, the warm spring begins making London a city that cannot be missed. The traditional tournament off-day to start the tournaments second week gives the fans a great chance to tour London. Some of the world’s most famous hotels reside only a short car ride away from Wimbledon. The famous Midland Grand Hotel which has been closed since the middle of the 1930s re-opened at the end of May just in time for the flowers to bud at the nearby Hyde Park. For those fans who love to be in the middle of the action, the glamorous Trafalgar Hilton in London’s Trafalgar Square put fans right in the middle of the action. Breath-taking architecture of the old city surrounds the area making a leisurely walk fun for all. After grabbing a bite to eat at the famous Borough Market, stopping inside the nearby Brew Wharf is a must. The world famous sports bar is set to show all of England’s World Cup games and house England’s crazy soccer fans. After such an action packed day there is no better way to catch a glimpse of the entire city than aboard the Big Red Bus tours that give anyone the opportunity to learn and see one of Europe’s greatest cities.
The entertainment value of London is at an all-time high during its final days of spring. The combination of going out to Wimbledon or catching an England World Cup game in a pub is a timeless experience that does not come around very often.
2 Comments on “From Paris to London”
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