Nadal takes apart Federer for fourth consecutive French title

Could be.

"To beat Rafa on this type of surface, you need to play your best tennis," said Borg, who watched from a front-row seat. "But Roger's going to be back. And so will Rafa."

Borg, who thinks Nadal could break his mark of six French Open titles, was among the tournament's past champions who stood on court Sunday during a prematch ceremony marking the stadium's 80th anniversary: Guillermo Vilas, Gustavo Kuerten, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Mary Pierce and others also were there.

Among the uninvited, seeing as how they never won a singles title at Roland Garros: Sampras, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker.

His outward optimism aside, Federer could be forgiven if, deep down, he wonders whether he ever will be asked to participate in such festivities, whether he ever will get past Nadal at the French Open. Glum as he was after the match, Federer already was thinking about 2009.

"I mean, after a loss like this, you don't want to play Rafa again tomorrow, that's for sure," the 26-year-old Federer said.

And yet, seconds later, he added: "Let's see what happens again next year."