Cvitkovic: Paris proved they're Not Ready To Go

While I doubt music from Nova Scotian rockers, The Trews, was played throughout the grounds of Roland Garros over the past two weeks, the theme from the 2011 French Open should have been Not Ready to Go, the hit single from their album House of Ill Fame. Many tennis stars questioned lately on their performance proved the critics wrong with declarations of success in essence, proclaiming they're not ready to go.

Rafael Nadal of Spain, the world's top-ranked player, captured his sixth French Open in Paris, tying him with the great Bjorn Borg, and Novak Djokovic of Serbia flirted with perfection. But the forgotten man, finalist Roger Federer, reminded the tennis world he tooshould not be ignored.

The Swiss Maestro, holder of a record 16 Grand Slam titles, relinquished just one set in reaching the final and did what nobody else had done this season defeat Djokovic, who entered the semifinal showdown an amazing 41-0 in 2011. Federer knocked him off in four sets to return to the final for the fifth time.

Watching the first set of the men's final, my four-year-old daughter, a Federer fan because she had some of his birthday cake in Toronto last year, turned to me and said, "Daddy, Roger looks like he is flying!"

Indeed, Federer burst out of the gates like it was 2005. He was aggressive, owned the net and forced Nadal to play uncharacteristically tense. A magical drop shot that landed an eyelash wide on set point might have been the turning point.

"I definitely thought that I got maybe a touch unlucky there and he got a touch lucky, so it was a tough moment," Federer said. "I think that was one of my bigger chances of the match."

Federer could not convert the opportunities he was given and, after losing the pivotal opening set, Nadal, the aptly named King of Clay, returned to form and took the match 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 in three hours 40 minutes. It may not have been the epic from Wimbledon in 2008, but it still had the flashes of brilliance that makes the rivalry unmatched in my generation.

"He is the best on clay," Federer conceded. "He proved it once again."

Federer lost to Nadal for the fourth time in as many French Open finals, but his strong two weeks in Paris will give him confidence heading into the grass court season.

I'm not ready to go

The women's final was missing top-ranked European sweethearts Caroline Wozniacki and Kim Clijsters and the American star power of Serena and Venus Williams, but seeing Li Na become the first Asian to win a Grand Slam was pretty special. The 29-year-old Chinese star defeated defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6.

"I got a text message from my friend," Li said. "They said they were crying in China."

Li was all but written off in recent years, due to a multitude of injuries, but she stayed the course and was rewarded with the hardware. It could be argued Li has been the most successful women's player in 2011, reaching the final of the Australian Open she lost to Clijsters before breaking through in Paris.

"I had no experience," Li noted of the loss in Melbourne.

"I was very nervous. For my second time in a final, I had the experience.

"I knew how to do it. And I had more self-confidence."

Look for a fantastic summer from the newly-ranked No. 4, including a stop in Toronto, much to the joy of Rogers Cup organizers.

It should also be noted that Russian tennis darling Maria Sharapova, who looked all but done after shoulder surgery and chronic setbacks, reached the semifinals she lost to Na on her least-favourite surface. It's hard to believeSharapova is only 24-years-old, but she has matured on court before our eyes and fans can expect much more from the three-time major champion.

I'm not ready to go...(reprise)

What Daniel Nestor has done in men's doubles stands as the greatest accomplishment on a tennis court by a Canadian. I shouldn't be surprised by the Toronto native's ongoing success at the ripe-old age of 38. However, Nestor continues to amaze me.

He captured his third French Open doubles crown and 73rd career tournament title alongside new playing partner Max Mirnyi of Belarus, downing Colombia's Juan Sebastian Cabal and Argentina's Eduardo Schwank 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.

Nestor has seven Grand Slam titles with three different partners he won with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas in 2007 and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and one major title in each of the past five years. When he split with Zimonjic, last season, many questioned the move and figured success would accompany the big-hitting Serbian.

But Nestor hasn't missed a beat.

He seems at peace with his new partnership and, with every trophy in tennis on the mantle, including a Olympic gold medal, you wonder how he stays motivated?

It must be the sound of the victory march.

"Winning never gets old," Nestor acknowledged. "[The] biggest goal in my career is winning Grand Slams.

"They're all special for different reasons. Every time you win with a new partner, that first one is an amazing feeling [and this title] is no exception."

Like good Canadian music, the 2011 French Open was upbeat, full of compelling stories and left tennis fans craving more of the same.