2013 French Open – Men's Singles

Men's Singles
2013 French Open
Champion	Rafael Nadal
Runner-up	David Ferrer
Final score	6–3, 6–2, 6–3

Rafael Nadal was the three-time defending champion and successfully defended his title by defeating compatriot and good friend David Ferrer who reached his first Grand Slam final 6–3, 6–2, 6–3.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were placed in the same half of the draw at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2010 French Open.^[1] In their semifinal, they played a notably long match which lasted 4:37 hours and was dubbed one of the greatest matches to have ever been played and the best clay court match ever. Nadal eventually came through 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–7, 9–7.

With Roger Federer's quarterfinal loss, a new French Open finalist was guaranteed from the bottom half of the draw, and David Ferrer successfully reached the final in straight sets,^[2] meaning there would be an all-Spanish Grand Slam final for the first time since 2002.^[3] In beating Ferrer in the final, Nadal became the first man in history to win any Grand Slam tournament eight times and overtook Björn Borg and Rod Laver in total Grand Slam titles with 12, tying with Australian Roy Emerson. He also tied with Max Decugis, who won eight titles when the tournament was only open to French club members.

Despite the victory, Nadal dropped one place down the rankings to world no. 5, in the week beginning 10 June 2013, following Ferrer's run to the final.^[4][5][6]

Seeds

1. Novak Djokovic (Semifinals)
2. Roger Federer (Quarterfinals)
3. Rafael Nadal (Champion)
4. David Ferrer (Final)
5. Tomáš Berdych (First round)
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Semifinals)
7. Richard Gasquet (Fourth round)
8. Janko Tipsarević (Third round)
9. Stanislas Wawrinka (Quarterfinals)
10. Marin Čilić (Third round)
11. Nicolás Almagro (Fourth round)
12. Tommy Haas (Quarterfinals)
13. Kei Nishikori (Fourth round)
14. Milos Raonic (Third round)
15. Gilles Simon (Fourth round)
16. Philipp Kohlschreiber (Fourth round)
17. Juan Mónaco (First round)
18. Sam Querrey (Third round)
19. John Isner (Third round)
20. Andreas Seppi (Third round)
21. Jerzy Janowicz (Third round)
22. Alexandr Dolgopolov (First round)
23. Kevin Anderson (Fourth round)
24. Benoît Paire (Third round)
25. Jérémy Chardy (Third round)
26. Grigor Dimitrov (Third round)
27. Fabio Fognini (Third round)
28. Florian Mayer (First round, retired)
29. Mikhail Youzhny (Fourth round)
30. Julien Benneteau (Third round)
31. Marcel Granollers (First round)
32. Tommy Robredo (Quarterfinals)

Qualifying

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild Card
• LL = Lucky Loser
• Alt = Alternate
• SE = Special Exempt
• PR = Protected Ranking
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	Novak Djokovic	6	7^7	7
	12	Tommy Haas	3	6^5	5
										1	Novak Djokovic	4	6	1	7^7	7
										3	Rafael Nadal	6	3	6	6^3	9
	3	Rafael Nadal	6	6	6
	9	Stanislas Wawrinka	2	3	1
																			3	Rafael Nadal	6	6	6
																			4	David Ferrer	3	2	3
	32	Tommy Robredo	2	1	1
	4	David Ferrer	6	6	6
										4	David Ferrer	6	7^7	6
										6	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	1	6^3	2
	6	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	7	6	6
	2	Roger Federer	5	3	3

Top half

Section 1

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	1	N Djokovic	7^7	6	7
		D Goffin	6^5	4	5					1	N Djokovic	6	6	6
		I Dodig	6	4	3	6	10				G Pella	2	0	2
		G Pella	4	6	6	2	12												1	N Djokovic	6	6	6
	WC	A Kuznetsov	1	6^2	2														26	G Dimitrov	2	2	3
	WC	L Pouille	6	7^7	6					WC	L Pouille	1	6^4	1
		A Falla	4	0^r						26	G Dimitrov	6	7^7	6
	26	G Dimitrov	6	1																								1	N Djokovic	4	6	6	6
	22	A Dolgopolov	6^7	4	6^7																							16	P Kohlschreiber	6	3	4	4
		D Tursunov	7^9	6	7^9						D Tursunov	4	6^r
		B Tomic	5	6^8	1^r						V Hănescu	6	6
		V Hănescu	7	7^10	2															V Hănescu	0	6^0	1
		S Bolelli	4	4	1^r														16	P Kohlschreiber	6	7^7	6
		Y-h Lu	6	6	2						Y-h Lu
	Q	J Veselý	6^3	6	5	2				16	P Kohlschreiber	w/o
	16	P Kohlschreiber	7^7	1	7	6

Section 2

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	12	T Haas	7^7	6	6
		G Rufin	6^4	1	3					12	T Haas	7^7	6	7
	Q	J Sock	6	6	7					Q	J Sock	6^3	2	5
		G García-López	2	2	5														12	T Haas	7	7^7	4	6^10	10
		An Kuznetsov	3	4	6^4														19	J Isner	5	6^4	6	7^12	8
		R Harrison	6	6	7^7						R Harrison	7	7^9	3	1	6
		C Berlocq	3	4	4					19	J Isner	5	6^7	6	6	8
	19	J Isner	6	6	6																							12	T Haas	6	6	6
	29	M Youzhny	4	6	6	6																						29	M Youzhny	1	1	3
		P Andújar	6	4	2	3				29	M Youzhny	6	6^5	7	6
		F Delbonis	6^2	6	6	6					F Delbonis	3	7^7	5	4
	Q	J Reister	7^7	1	0	4													29	M Youzhny	6	6	6
		F Verdasco	6	6	6														8	J Tipsarević	4	4	3
	WC	M Gicquel	2	3	1						F Verdasco	6^3	1	6	7	6
	WC	N Mahut	2	6^4	1					8	J Tipsarević	7^7	6	3	5	8
	8	J Tipsarević	6	7^7	6

Section 3

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	3	R Nadal	4	7^7	6	6
		D Brands	6	6^4	4	3				3	R Nadal	4	6	6	6
		M Kližan	3	6	6	0					M Kližan	6	3	3	3
		M Russell	6	3	1	0^r													3	R Nadal	7^7	6	6
	Q	P Riba	3	4	4														27	F Fognini	6^5	4	4
		L Rosol	6	6	6						L Rosol	2	6^3	6	1
	Q	A Beck	3	5	3					27	F Fognini	6	7^7	2	6
	27	F Fognini	6	7	6																							3	R Nadal	6	6	6
	24	B Paire	3	7^7	6	6																						13	K Nishikori	4	1	3
		M Baghdatis	6	6^1	4	4				24	B Paire	7^7	6	6
		Ł Kubot	6	5	7^9	6					Ł Kubot	6^2	2	4
	Q	M Teixeira	4	7	6^7	2													24	B Paire	3	7^7	4	1
		G Žemlja	6	6	6														13	K Nishikori	6	6^3	6	6
		S Giraldo	1	4	1						G Žemlja	1	7	1	4
		J Levine	3	2	0					13	K Nishikori	6	5	6	6
	13	K Nishikori	6	6	6

Section 4

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	9	S Wawrinka	7	6	6^1	7
		T de Bakker	5	3	7^7	5				9	S Wawrinka	6	7^7	6
	Q	V Pospisil	6^9	4	7^7	6	6				H Zeballos	2	6^2	4
		H Zeballos	7^11	6	6^4	2	8												9	S Wawrinka	6	6^2	6	6
		K de Schepper	4	6^3	6	3													21	J Janowicz	3	7^7	3	3
		R Haase	6	7^7	2	6					R Haase	4	6	4	3
		A Ramos	6^3	5	3					21	J Janowicz	6	4	6	6
	21	J Janowicz	7^7	7	6																							9	S Wawrinka	6^5	4	6	7	8
	28	F Mayer	6	3	5^r																							7	R Gasquet	7^7	6	4	5	6
		D Istomin	4	6	7						D Istomin	4	5	2
	WC	F Serra	3	4	5						N Davydenko	6	7	6
		N Davydenko	6	6	7															N Davydenko	4	4	3
	Q	M Przysiężny	6	6^5	7	7													7	R Gasquet	6	6	6
	LL	R Williams	3	7^7	5	5				Q	M Przysiężny	3	3	0
		S Stakhovsky	1	4	3					7	R Gasquet	6	6	6
	7	R Gasquet	6	6	6

Bottom half

Section 5

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	5	T Berdych	6^8	4	7^7	7^7	5
	WC	G Monfils	7^10	6	6^3	6^4	7			WC	G Monfils	6^5	6	7^7	6
		E Gulbis	6	7^7	6						E Gulbis	7^7	4	6^4	2
		R Dutra da Silva	1	6^4	3														WC	G Monfils	6	7^7	2	6^3	2
		I Sijsling	6	6	6														32	T Robredo	2	6^5	6	7^7	6
		J Melzer	4	3	2						I Sijsling	7^7	6	3	1	1
	PR	J Zopp	3	2	1					32	T Robredo	6^2	4	6	6	6
	32	T Robredo	6	6	6																							32	T Robredo	6^5	3	6	6	6
	20	A Seppi	6^4	6	6	6^2	6																					11	N Almagro	7^7	6	4	4	4
		L Mayer	7^7	4	3	7^7	4			20	A Seppi	6	7^7	6^2	4	6
		B Kavčič	6	6	6						B Kavčič	0	6^3	7^7	6	3
	Q	J Duckworth	2	2	2														20	A Seppi	6^1	0	4
		M Alund	2	6	1	0													11	N Almagro	7^7	6	6
		É Roger-Vasselin	6	4	6	6					É Roger-Vasselin	2	4	3
	LL	A Haider-Maurer	6	4	3	3				11	N Almagro	6	6	6
	11	N Almagro	4	6	6	6

Section 6

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	14	M Raonic	6	6	4	6
		X Malisse	2	1	6	4				14	M Raonic	7	3	7^7	6
	Q	S Darcis	4	6	1	4					M Llodra	5	6	6^3	2
		M Llodra	6	4	6	6													14	M Raonic	5	6^4	3
	Q	J-L Struff	6^7	6	6^2	2													23	K Anderson	7	7^7	6
		E Donskoy	7^9	2	7^7	6					E Donskoy	7^10	1	5	2
	LL	I Marchenko	3	5	4					23	K Anderson	6^8	6	7	6
	23	K Anderson	6	7	6																							23	K Anderson	3	1	1
	31	M Granollers	5	6	4	6	4																					4	D Ferrer	6	6	6
		F López	7	2	6	4	6				F López	3	6	6	6
		J Sousa	6	6	6						J Sousa	6	3	4	4
		G Soeda	1	3	2															F López	1	5	4
	Q	S Johnson	4	6	3	6	1												4	D Ferrer	6	7	6
		A Montañés	6	3	6	3	6				A Montañés	2	1	3
		M Matosevic	4	3	4					4	D Ferrer	6	6	6
	4	D Ferrer	6	6	6

Section 7

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	6	J-W Tsonga	6	6	6
		A Bedene	2	2	3					6	J-W Tsonga	7^8	6	6
		J Nieminen	6	4	7^11	4	6				J Nieminen	6^6	4	3
		P-H Mathieu	4	6	6^9	6	2												6	J-W Tsonga	6	6	7
		R Bautista-Agut	6	6	6														25	J Chardy	1	2	5
		G Müller	3	4	2						R Bautista-Agut	1	5	4
		B Becker	4	2	5					25	J Chardy	6	7	6
	25	J Chardy	6	6	7																							6	J-W Tsonga	6	6	6
	17	J Mónaco	6	6	6^4	4	4																						V Troicki	3	3	3
		D Gimeno-Traver	4	4	7^7	6	6				D Gimeno-Traver	6	6^4	0	7^9	4
		V Troicki	6	6	6						V Troicki	4	7^7	6	6^7	6
		J Blake	4	2	2															V Troicki	7^14	6	7
		R Štěpánek	6^4	6^8	6^11														10	M Čilić	6^12	4	5
	WC	N Kyrgios	7^7	7^10	7^13					WC	N Kyrgios	4	2	2
		P Petzschner	1	2	3					10	M Čilić	6	6	6
	10	M Čilić	6	6	6

Section 8

	First Round									Second Round									Third Round									Fourth Round
	15	G Simon	3	1	6	6	7
		L Hewitt	6	6	4	1	5			15	G Simon	6^2	6	6	6
	WC	A Mannarino	3	6	3	7	5			PR	P Cuevas	7^7	1	1	1
	PR	P Cuevas	6	2	6	5	7												15	G Simon	2	6	2	7^7	6
		J Hájek	6	5	6	6													18	S Querrey	6	3	6	6^2	2
	Q	D Kudla	2	7	0	4					J Hájek	4	5	4
		L Lacko	3	4	4					18	S Querrey	6	7	6
	18	S Querrey	6	6	6																							15	G Simon	1	6	6	2	3
	30	J Benneteau	7^7	6	5	7^7																						2	R Federer	6	4	2	6	6
		R Berankis	6^5	3	7	6^5				30	J Benneteau	7^11	7	5	0	6
		T Kamke	6	6	3	0	6				T Kamke	6^9	5	7	6	4
		P Lorenzi	3	3	6	6	3												30	J Benneteau	3	4	5
	Q	S Devvarman	6	6	7														2	R Federer	6	6	7
	Q	D Muñoz de la Nava	3	3	5					Q	S Devvarman	2	1	1
	Q	P Carreño-Busta	2	2	3					2	R Federer	6	6	6
	2	R Federer	6	6	6

Road to the final

For the first time in his career, Rafael Nadal lost a set in both of the first two rounds. In the semi-finals, he faced off against world number one Novak Djokovic. In an epic five setter, Nadal triumphed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 9-7.^[7]

David Ferrer advanced to the final of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. He did not lose a single set in the tournament before the final.^[7]

Final

Third-seeded Nadal from Spain faced off against fourth-seeded David Ferrer in the finals of the French Open. Both players employed the same strategy, trying to win points from the baseline. Nadal won a break early in the first set, but lost it back quickly and had to fend off two other break points during the set. Nadal ending up winning the first set 6–3. Down 3–1 in the second set, Ferrer had four break points to get back into the set. However, Nadal fought them all off, winning the last point on a 31-shot rally, the longest of the match. From there he cruised to a 6–2 set victory. Aided by a Ferrer double fault on break point, Nadal took the third set 6–3 for a three set to none victory.^[7]

Nadal had been dominant on clay during his career, but took seven months off from mid-2012 to February 2013 to recover from a knee injury. He showed few signs of the injury during the final as he tracked down balls from corner to corner and hit numerous topspin-laden winners. "This one is very special one," said Nadal after the match. "When you have period of time like I had, you realize that you don't know if you will have the chance to be back here with this trophy another time."^[7]

The two-hour sixteen-minute match was briefly interrupted by noisy protesters, one of whom ran onto the court with a lit flare. Tournament director Gilbert Ysern said security "acted efficiently and quickly and handled [the situation] very well."^[7] Both players appeared to be rattled by the event, dropping serve immediately after it. "I felt a little bit scared at the first moment because I didn't see what's going on. I just turned there and I watch a guy with some fire," remarked Nadal.^[7] Ferrer said the event did not affect his play. Ten people were arrested in total.^[7]

With his win, Nadal became the first man to win the same Grand Slam event eight times. It was his 12th major overall, putting him tied for third on the all-time list behind Roger Federer (17) and Pete Sampras (14). He is 59–1 all time in Paris. Nadal broke the men's record for most victories at the French Open and improved to 20–4 against Ferrer.^[7]

References

1. 2013 French Open: men's matches to watch out for | The Roar
2. Tsonga beats Federer, first-time French Open finalist guaranteed | The Roar
3. French Open: Rafael Nadal edges Novak Djokovic in epic semi as David Ferrer ends Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's match – ABC Grandstand Sport – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
4. Nadal creates history but Ferrer wins respect | The Roar
5. "Rafael Nadal v David Ferrer: French Open final – as it happened". Guardian UK. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
6. "Rafael Nadal is scintillating as the king of clay returns". The Independent. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
7. Douglas Robson (June 9, 2013). "Rafael Nadal captures eighth French Open crown". USA Today. associated Press. Retrieved June 10, 2013.

External links

• Main Draw