by matthew cronin

The Plot: Outside of Roger Federer, it’s hard to find a guy who’s not Spanish or Argentine that would make a top five contenders list at the French Open. In fact, many would list Federer and all Spaniards and Argentines in a top-10 list.

Between them, Spain and Argentina have 14 members of the ATP top 50, (amazingly, seven members each). Spain will send three former Roland Garros champs to Paris this year: Carlos Moya (‘98), Albert Costa (‘02) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (‘03). Spain has won five of the past 10 Roland Garros titles. Argentina will trot out last year’s champ Gaston Gaudio, last year’s finalist, Guillermo Coria and a former top-five player on the mend, David Nalbandian.

Of the nine clay court tournaments that were played through May 3, Spain and Argentina combined for nine titles. Last year, they teamed up for 15 clay crowns. Since ‘90, Spain and South America (including Brazil and Ecuador) have combined for 10 French crowns. The only other French titles have been won by a rough redhead (Jim Courier, in ‘91 and ‘92), two blonde bombers (Thomas Muster, in ‘95, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, in ‘96) and a bald guy you might know (Andre Agassi, in ‘99). This is clearly a brunette’s tournament.

Leading Actors: Two men have proved themselves to be leaders of their nations this year: 18-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who has won five clay court titles in his coming out season, and Gaudio, who has won two crowns and showed tremendous heart and ability in winning last year’s French.

Nearly neck and neck with Nadal is Ferrero, who seems to have finally rid himself of illness and injury, and whose level seems to be resurrecting daily. Coria tends to get nervous, but he’s the game’s fastest player and had he not choked to Gaudio last year, would now be standing tall as the world’s best clay courter. He has the game to prove that he is this year.

The Sub Plot: Despite major changes in racket technology, stylistically, today’s players still mirror their former champs and heroes. Creative players like Gaudio play in the tradition of poet Guillermo Vilas and glam-athlete Gabriela Sabatini, while inexhaustible players like Carlos Moya play more in the tradition of the steady grinder Manuel Santana.

Supporting Actors: Moya always to be around the second week, but just can’t seem to get over the hump again. How in creation did he lose to Martin Verkerk in ‘03? Costa is a true warrior, but is on the twilight of his career. Tommy Robredo doesn’t have a money shot, and Feliciano Lopez is more of a fast court player. Spain’s legitimate dark horse is David Ferrer, a red-hot veteran who’s finally coming into his own.

Argentina may have more men reach the second week. All-courter Nalbandian is murderous on all surfaces, but rarely seems to be at full strength. The two Mariano’s, Puerta and Zabelata, are extremely solid, and Juan-Ignacio Chela tantalizes with talent. But Guillermo Canas is the one Argentine not to overlooked: he was his nations’ best player three years ago before a wrist injury, and has the heart and experience to pull off a Gaudio this year.

Quien es mas macho?: Machismo may be a largely dismissed cultural attitude in the U.S., but in Spain and Argentina, pounding one’s chest over who’s tougher is not only accepted, but expected. Who would you take in a cage match between Moya and Canas? Who would you take in a dark
alley brawl between the wild-eyed Nalbandian and the rugged Costa? Who would you take in another five-hour final between the oak-legged Coria and the anchor-armed Nadal? All tough choices, but one thing is for sure: there will be plenty of bloodied knees on clay before ‘05 Roland Garros is over
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