PARIS -- Novak Djokovic received a tennis lesson courtesy of
Rafael Nadal in the French Open semifinals.
"From every match, I learn something new," said Djokovic, who
lost Friday to Nadal, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2. "Especially this tournament --
it's one of the four biggest tournaments in tennis, and it brought
me a lot of positive things. I can always learn something new out
of the Grand Slam."
The 20-year-old Serb, touted as a future champion because of his
all-around game, reached the semifinals at a major event for the
first time. He held his own against Nadal for a set, but the
Spaniard's typically dogged play eventually deflated Djokovic.
After Nadal made a mad dash to swat a running forehand winner
and break for a 4-3 lead in the second set, Djokovic sat in his
chair and crossed himself, as if in tribute to his opponent.
Djokovic has climbed from 16th to sixth in the rankings since
the start of the year, but he knows there's still a gap between him
and the top two players -- No. 2 Nadal and No. 1 Roger Federer.
"So far I did incredible results for my age," Djokovic said.
"But I say what is realistic: They are the two best players in the
world right now. On every surface, they are the biggest favorites
to win the title. And I think everybody knows that.
"But I will work hard to try to one day be best in the world."
Djokovic led a Serb surge at Roland Garros. The nation had three
Grand Slam semifinalists for the first time, with Ana Ivanovic
playing in the women's final Saturday, and Jelena Jankovic also
making the women's final four.
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^DOUBLES CHAMPS:@ Alicia Molik of Australia capped a comeback
when she and Mara Santangelo of Italy won their first French Open
doubles title Friday, beating Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama
7-6 (5), 6-4.
Molik's other Grand Slam title came in doubles in the 2005
Australian Open with Svetlana Kuznetsova. Molik missed the first
several months of 2006 with an inner ear infection.
"It has obviously been a long journey for me, back from an
injury," Molik said. "And it's moments like these that you really
pinch yourself and realize why you put in those long hours of
practice, and why you work so hard and diligently.
"So I think it's a great achievement for both of us."
Molik and Santangelo were seeded 17th.
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^THREE'S ENOUGH:@ Three-time French Open champion Justine Henin
says three sets for women are enough.
Men play best-of-five sets at Grand Slam events, and women play
best-of-three.
"I think women's tennis is good like it is now," Henin said.
"And physically, you know, we're not maybe that strong. It will be
also tough. And I'm not quite sure it would be good for tennis. You
wouldn't see a very good level in a very long match."
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^LAST OF THE AMERICANS:@ Two Americans have reached French Open
finals -- both in junior doubles.
Kellen Damico of the United States and Jonathan Eysseric of
France will play for the boys' doubles title. Alexa Glatch of the
United States and Sorana Cirstea of Romania are in the girls'
doubles finals.
In the main draw, American men went 0-for-9 -- the first time in
at least 40 years that no U.S. men reached the second round at
Roland Garros. The last American woman, Serena Williams, lost in
the quarterfinals.