Thursday, 7th June 2007 at 1:37 pm

Federer, Nadal stay on track

It was hard not to feel a little sympathy for Carlos Moya, who may be pushing 60, but still entered his clash with Rafael Nadal on something of a high. Three punishing sets later - the last of them a dismissive 6-0 - and Moya’s time at Roland Garros ended for this year, Nadal illustrating just how impossible he is to deal with on clay.

Lleyton Hewitt had spoken of it in the previous round, where despite a furious late scrap he’d been unable to take a set off Nadal, whose ability to pin his opponent deep with blistering strokes and a malevolent command of spin, has him through to the last four. Which means he’s well on track for the final everyone’s hoping for…

The Hamburg event a few weeks ago saw Roger Federer finally end Nadal’s extraordinary run on clay, but the Spaniard looked tired in Germany, and Federer was able to take advantage. Important psychological points for Federer, proving that he can beat Nadal on clay, but the Spaniard will be furiously pursuing revenge, as well as the defence of his title at Roland Garros.

And that suggests Sunday’s final (provided there aren’t any late upsets) could be the match of the year. Federer needs a win in Paris to complete his Grand Slam collection; Nadal owns Roland Garros, and wants to keep it that way. Sunday afternoon, SuperSport 2 - either way, the French Open looks set to finish with a flourish.