Baby, you are ruthless! Bad ass! and brilliant! Rafael Nadal of Spain upset top-ranked and World numero uno Roger Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Friday to reach the final of his first French Open.
Nadal also extends his winning streak to 23 matches, all on clay, as well as stop Da Fed's quest for a Grand Slam. And what a way to celebrate your 19th birthday!
Rafa, who ranks a ten on the "Do-Me" meter, is the Next Big Thing in men's tennis with his killer smile, long hair, knee-length tennis pants and sleeveless shirts. Federer, the old man at 23, is something of an classical throwback with his clean-cut appearance, traditional tennis clothes, and cool-as-Borg on-court demeanor. He's ruled tennis for quite some time, but now must make room at the top for the Spanish star who brings to the court blazing racquet skills and enthusiasm for the learning the game.
Off the court, Rafa continues to attact fans with his loveable "Spanglish" (he's learning to speak English). He told one recent news conference he was feeling a bit "mareated."
"He meant mareado. In Spanish, it means dizzy," said Benito Perez-Barbadillo, one of his language coaches on the tour. "He invents words. He speaks a funny Spanglish of his own."
, "In Rome he said, 'I want to thank the poo-blic.' I told him 'public,'" Perez-Barbadillo said. "'They apoyar me.' Apoyar is Spanish for support. He wanted to thank the public for supporting him.'"
After winning today's semifinal match, Nadal moves on to Sunday's final, where he will face unseeded Mariano Puerta from Argentina.
"In Rome he said, 'I want to thank the poo-blic.' I told him 'public,'" Perez-Barbadillo said. "'They apoyar me.' Apoyar is Spanish for support. He wanted to thank the public for supporting him.'"
After winning today's semifinal match, Nadal moves on to Sunday's final, where he will face unseeded Mariano Puerta from Argentina.
