Top Four Male Seeds Lead Way at French Open

ByABC News
June 8, 2006, 11:39 AM

PARIS, June 8, 2006 — -- Some 254 men's and women's main-draw singles matches will be contested over the 15 days here at Roland Garros, along with 189 men's, women's and mixed doubles matches, and another 126 junior boys and girls singles matches.

But only one -- No. 1 seed Roger Federer versus No. 2 seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal -- truly matters. All the other matches, Wednesday's two men's quarterfinals included, are essentially irrelevant.

As soon as Nadal dispatched Federer in the Rome final three weeks ago (the Swiss champion held two match points), the drumbeat began. After Nadal prevailed Wednesday over Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 in an injury-shortened match, the noise was deafening.

What about Federer in the French Open final?

"We'll take one match at a time," said the 20-year-old Spaniard. "I don't want to speculate. I'm thinking about Friday rather than Sunday. We'll talk about that next time."

In Wednesday's other men's quarterfinal, Ivan Ljubicic reached his first career Grand Slam semifinal, handling French favorite Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

And so, for the first time since 1985, the top four seeds have arrived safely in the semifinals -- just like they drew it up in the ATP playbook. On Friday, Federer will play No. 3 seed David Nalbandian in one semifinal and Nadal will meet the fourth-seeded Ljubicic.

Men's tennis, like those green California grapes, has been notoriously seed-free in recent years. Depth typically leads to upsets, but here at Roland Garros they have been rare as the rounds have grown more meaningful.

In 1985, No. 1 John McEnroe, No. 2 Ivan Lendl, No. 3 Jimmy Connors and No. 4 Mats Wilander all reached the semifinals. Wilander won in four sets over Lendl in the final. The last time No. 1 met No. 2 in the final was the year before, when Lendl prevailed over McEnroe in five sets.

"It's been a long time -- since my brother," U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe said Tuesday. "It is very unusual. It's been pretty clear that two guys have been distancing themselves from the pack, but the next two guys have been winning matches, and doing it on varying surfaces.