In January Roger Federer’s remarkable all-time streak of reaching 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals came to an end. Reaching the equivalent of 2 ½ years of Grand Slam finals is an insane number. Federer continued a second streak by reaching his 16th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal on Wednesday June 4. Such a streak amounts to reaching the Final Four at 4 years of Grand Slam events. Putting those numbers into perspective in the world of sport is difficult.

During the French fortnight, Wilander asserted, “What I understand because my career is over and what Federer doesn’t understand because his isn’t, is that the day he beats Nadal on clay is the day he will never lose to Rafael Nadal again.” That scenario wasn’t plausible then, and it’s impossible now. As John McEnroe remarked, “Federer now seems farther away than ever from winning this.” Mary Carillo posed and answered the real question: “What’s to stop Nadal from carrying all this confidence into Wimbledon in a couple weeks?” And can Federer, who barely staved off rampaging Nadal in the 2007 Big W final, stop him and Djokovic there?

Can you imagine Andy Roddick coming into Rafael Nadal’s house at Roland Garros and stealing a match? That is exactly what Nadal did at Queen’s, beating the four-time winner and defending champion in straight sets, as well as toppling the serving machine Ivo Karlovic in three consecutive tiebreaks during the week.

“I had obviously a strategy in mind, but I couldn’t do it because of Rafa’s play,” Federer said. “He’s so hard to stop once he’s on top of you. The moment I step off this court I will think of grass — I’m looking forward to the grass, that’s for sure.”

Hey NBC, thanks for keeping tennis on the always-tape-delayed down-low in the U.S., and you in on some conspiracy to kill tennis?

Ivanovic v Safina in First-Time-Winner French Open Final
The players with the most heart won out Thursday in the French Open semifinals, where Serb Ana Ivanovic and Russian Dinara Safina set up a meeting to see which will walk away with their first Grand Slam title.
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Ivanovic outlasted her Serbiajn compatriot Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in [...]

Kuzy, Safina Advance to All-Russian French Open Semifinal
Down a set and 2-5 in the second, Russian Dinara Safina staged another gutsy comeback Wednesday at the French Open, defeating countrywoman Elena Dementieva 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-0 to advance into her first semifinal at Roland Garros.
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Dementieva, the former French Open runner-up and a doormat for more mentally-stronger opponents [...]

“I tried to play it at the beginning, but I did not expect such results…He starts playing and his balls bounce up six meters high,” Almagro told reporters. “These are things I’m not used to. I’m not used to that on the tour, to have such heavy balls, such pace, such rhythm. His level is very high. It’s very difficult to play equal.”

Before taking a break from French Open tennis, I want to express my appreciation for Rafael Nadal’s 26 consecutive French Open singles wins, Roger Federer’s 16 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances and Novak Djokovic’s 5th straight Grand Slam semifinal appearance. If Federer beats Gonzo, it will be 16 consecutive semifinal appearances as well. These numbers demonstrate that the big 3 are really in their own galaxy at the moment even if other players can challenge and beat them on any given day. Consistency is a key factor in dominance.

“Oh, I was angry,” said Sharapova, who was booed by fans upon rapidly exiting the stadium court. “I was angry for making unforced errors, for not taking some of those balls and just ripping them.”