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Roger Federer’s quest for the grand slam is over.

Barring injury, Rafael Nadal will in all likelihood go undefeated during the entire European clay court season. His utterly dominating performance in Monte Carlo last week has, in my mind, put him at the very top of the heap as the all-time best clay court player.

If you want to learn by watching the best, observe the skills of Nadal closely. While your game made need some basic improvements, the tactics used by Nadal are valuable lessons for all levels of players.

Nadal strolled through the world’s best players without dropping a set and proceeded to humiliate Federer in a lopsided final. The 6-4, 6-4 score was in no way indicative of the tone of the match.

Aside from a few powerfully and accurately served games from the Swiss superstar, Nadal controlled virtually every point from the back of the court with tornadic topspin that rocked Federer’s confidence and reduced him to a mere journeyman for the brief time he was on court Sunday.

When Federer attacked the net, he was punished unless his approach shot was nearly a fatal blow. And even when the approach was fierce, Nadal would make the Swiss hit three or four shots to win the point.

The Spaniard is strong, fast, fierce and loves the type of points that the red clay surface demands.

It’s still a long road to the French Open, but I don’t see Federer coming up with a solution to the Nadal game any time soon.

Unless Wimbledon is played during a fortnight that is damp and cool to keep the grass courts slick and fast, the Spaniard may just end the grass court run of Federer as well.

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Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Burnett welcomes questions on strokes, tactics or etiquette. To reach him, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.