It was a strange, back-and-forth match, but it ended exactly the way every match but one Rafael Nadal has ever played at the French Open ended – with Nadal on top, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. And after it was over, Nadal celebrated with another one of Spain’s finest.

Well, a little more than the face of victory. That right there is – and maybe could only be – the face of victory that was nearly defeat, and many times over. Novak Djokovic had to work a lot harder than most thought he would to earn that victory today, but he got there.

Normally, Roger Federer is as cool as the other side of the pillow. That was not the case at Roland Garros during this quarterfinals match-up with Juan Martin del Potro. Someone managed to get under his skin, and we saw a side of the Swiss machine we’ve never seen before — the insides. Video after the jump.

Mikhail Youzhny played poorly against David Ferrer in the French Open on Saturday, culminating in a 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 loss. But the gracious Youzhny, after losing the first eight games of the match, remorsefully apologized to fans with a message dug into the French Open clay, as pictured above.

Few events in tennis can suck you in quite like a long rally. Sure, amazing winners are nice, but they come and go immediately. Great rallies put you on edge and keep you there for as long as they continue. And if you’re in them, sometimes they make you cramp and vomit.

Whatever combination of physical prowess, mental toughness and magic fairy dust from the ether “it” is, Serena Williams didn’t have it today, and it resulted in her first first-round Grand Slam exit. But it wasn’t just that she lost – it was how flat-out miserable she looked at times.

Too good. Rafael Nadal was just too good. Roger Federer actually played well against him in today’s French Open final…and it wasn’t enough.

Li Na won her first Grand Slam today – and the first for the nation of China, to boot – defeating defending champion Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final.

Novak Djokovic was playing unbelievable tennis. He hadn’t lost a match this year. Then, today, he faced Roger Federer at the French Open.

In tennis, ballboys and ballgirls have a tough job. They can never let their guard down, and it’s the ultimate “no one notices you unless you screw up” gig.