Federer Calls Nadal One-Dimensional; to be Settled Sunday on Court

Federer, meanwhile, continued to steamroll cruising pass the dangerous Fernando Gonzalez 6-2, 6-4. The win for Federer was his 29th consecutive in Masters Series play and puts him at 33-1 overall on the season.

But the current king offered up some fighting words for Nadal.

"He's quite one-dimensional with his game," Federer said of Nadal’s game. "After Dubai, I thought I actually saw the way I should play against him. The more I play him, the better it is for me."

After those comments the Swiss was immediately rushed into drug testing and surprising to most, he passed.

As for Nadal, he’s feeling good about Sunday and determined to kick Fed’s ass, again.

"I always think about victory,” Nadal said. “It was very important for me to stay in this final. If I play my best I have a chance (against Federer). I'm going to play aggressively, with determination."

In their last meeting, Federer played some of his best tennis rolling to a 6-2 first set score over Nadal. But Federer – as he has done a few times this year and even this week – let his level drop in the second and third sets allowing Nadal to seize control.

In the doubles revolution final, top seeds Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Max Mirnyi of Belarus will play the third seeded team of Fabrice Santoro and Nenad Zimonjic.

Carlos Costa Stuns McEnroe to reach Barcelona Senior Final

Local favorite Carlos Costa spoiled John McEnroe’s impressive clay run by defeating the American 7-6(10), 1-6, 10-7 to advance to the final at the Barcelona Champions senior event.

In from of a jammed crowd over 6,700, reportedly the most for any single day in the tournament’s 54-year history, Costa and McEnroe offered plenty of excitement for the fans.

“There was a lot of energy out there, a lot of young kids coming in for the qualifying and it’s good to be around people that know tennis, people who get excited and where the crowds are into it,” McEnroe said.

In the final on Sunday, Costa, who also helps run the event, will meet friend and countryman Sergi Bruguera, a 6-3, 7-5 victor over Dutch boy Richard Krajicek.

The third-fourth place play-off will be between McEnroe and Krajicek.

Also on Saturday, Andres Gomez beat Javier Sanchez 4-6, 6-4, 10-8, while Mats Wilander overcame Martin Jaite 6-4, 6-3.

Fed Cup Wrap: Belgium, Russia Tied; France Even with Italy; U.S. Shocks Germany

Belgium 1, Russia 1

Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame cramps while rallying from a set down to prevail over red-hot Russian Nadia Petrova 67(2) 64 63. The win leveled the first round World Group I tie between Belgium and Russia at 1-1 on red indoor clay at Country Hall after world No.2 Kim Clijsters dropped a 64 63 decision to Elena Dementieva in the opening match.

France 1, Italy 1

World No.1 Amélie Mauresmo easily dispatched Flavia Pennetta 61 61 in the second match after countrywoman Nathalie Dechy fell 67(5) 63 63 to Italy's ace, Francesca Schiavone.

The tie is evened at 1-1 and Schiavone takes on Mauresmo in the first match Sunday, followed by Pennetta versus Dechy.

Italy has never beaten France in six tries and captain Corrado Barazzutti was in good spirits after Saturday’s matches.

"Our aim was to get at least a point on the first day and we did that so we are happy," Barazzutti said. “We’re still in the tie and anything can happen in the remaining three matches."

Germany 0, USA 2

In Ettenheim, the USA lead Germany 2-0 after Jamea Jackson defeated rising star Anna-Lena Groenefeld 62 36 75, and Jill Craybas beat Julia Schruff 46 62 75. Groenefeld was one game away from victory and Schruff had match point against Craybas. On Sunday, Groenefeld will play Craybas, while Schruff faces Jackson.

Spain 2, Austria 0

In Valencia, Spain secured a 2-0 lead when Anabel Medina Garrigues defeated Yvonne Meusburger 63 75 after compatriot Lourdes Domínguez Lino made a successful Fed Cup debut with a 76(5) 36 63 triumph over Sybille Bammer. Bammer goes against Medina Garrigues and Domínguez Lino faces Meusburger on Sunday. Spain needs just one win to advance to a home semifinal against France or Italy.

In World Group II, Japan leads Switzerland 2-0, China holds a 2-0 lead over Indonesia, while the first round ties between Croatia and Argentina and Czech Republic and Thailand are tied at 1-1. (WTA)

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Roger Federer is seeking his sixth different Masters title…The last time Rafael Nadal lost on clay was to Igor Andreev in the quarterfinals of Valencia last April…Don’t look now but the last five Monte Carlo champions have all went on to reach the French Open final…Rafael Nadal is now all alone with the third longest clay win streak in Open Era history at 41. Ahead of him are Guillermo Vilas (53) and Bjorn Borg (46)…On the dirt this week, Roger Federer has been broken just three times…Since his loss to Nadal in Dubai, Federer has won 17 straight matches and 36 of 39 sets…By the way, the last time Roger lost a match in straight sets was to Gustavo Kuerten at Roland Garros in 2004, a hefty span of 161 matches…Nice of Fernando Gonzalez to give a front row seat today to the young boy he accidentally hit in the head with his racquet during win Friday…How whack is Guillermo “El Fragile” Coria? During his loss to Nadal Friday the Argy had his blood pressure taken. Writes Neil Harman of the The Times: “The mere thought of playing either Federer or Nadal would be enough to give anybody the shakes, and poor Coria literally had palpitations against Nadal, needing to call the doctor after the first game of the second set to have his blood pressure checked.” Coria explained: "I was really worried because my hands were shaking and I felt sick.” That happens to a lot of people El Fragile when they play Nadal on clay. Get over it…Barry Flatman of The Times speculating on the Andy Murray’s future coach: “Currently available names among the game’s Latin quarter include Mariano Marchetti (until a few days ago coach to the world No 19 Tommy Robredo and another former mentor of Coria) and Patricio Rodriguez, who worked with Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, and Paolo Martin, at a loose end since the drug ban on Guillermo Canas. Yet the most intriguing name of all is that of Larry Passos, who coached Gustavo Kuerten to three French Open titles and has long kept an eye on Murray’s progress. His credentials are of the quality that can be taken most seriously.”…Looking to put a wager on the Monte final? In the U.S. one bookie has Club Fed as the slight favorite at -125 to Nadal’s -110 (that means to win $100 you have to put $125 down on Federer or $110 on Nadal). Federer is also favored by 2.5 games which means “they” see Fed winning in straights…For those in the U.S. the Monte Carlo final will be shown live at 8:30am ET on the Tennis Channel Sunday.