After defeating both their opponents in the Madrid Open to win the finals, both Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are the favorites at the French Open coming up later in the month.
Nadal won his match easily 6-2 6-4 over Stanislas Wawrinka, while Williams continued her dominance over Maria Sharapova, winning yet again to defend her Madrid title and now she is the clear cut number one heading into the French Open. Nadal will next play in the Rome event, which he took last year over Novak Djokovic and any injury that her had appears to be not bothering him in Spain as he prepares for the major.
Williams won 6-1 6-4 over Sharapova and made things look easy and now she has the chance to win her first French Open since 2002.
Williams has one more tournament to play - the clay event in Rome - before heading to Paris for the French Open, where the 31-year-old American has just the one singles title compared with five at Wimbledon, five at the Australian Open and four at the U.S. Open. Nadal now heads to Rome, where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in last year's final, for another Masters event on his favored surface before the French Open starts at the end of this month.
The switch back to red clay from blue in Madrid and the construction of new courts had made the conditions much more similar to Paris, which would help in her preparations, she added. It was the Spanish world number five's fifth title since he returned from a seven-month injury layoff in February and was more evidence that his troublesome knees are not about to bring his career to a premature end.
"I feel pressure every day. I think it's a good thing a little bit because it means I'm still really hungry. If I didn't, then I would be like, oh, it doesn't matter."
Williams was sidelined for 11 months between 2010 and 2011 with a right foot injury and lung problems and said the experience had made her more motivated. Nadal broke Wawrinka's serve three times in the match and such was his dominance, the Spaniard did not face a single break point. He collapsed on to his back in celebration when Wawrinka's backhand went long on match point. (Reuters)
