The French Open is a grueling two-week event where the men's winner must prevail in seven best-of-five matches to become champion. So I'm surprised to see Rafael Nadal playing this week in Hamburg after winning the Masters Rome event on Sunday in addition to two other claycourt events within the three weeks prior.
Nadal's mammoth clay streak now stands at 77th straight matches but if he loses early in the French Open due to fatigue or injury, I bet he'd gladly exchange his titles in Rome, Monte Carlo and Spain for another at Roland Garros. He has not lost on clay since April 2005.
I do hope he will be taking the week before the French Open - which starts May 27 - off.
Roger Federer retaine the world's top ranking for a 172nd straight week despite a troubling slump this spring. While clay is probably his weakest surface, Federer has won the Hamburg tournament three times in the past including back-to-back wins in 2004 and 2005. He didn't play last year.