Federer storms to French Open & Grand Slam glory
By Dave James, 8 Jun 2009 Dave James is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Grand slam, Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Tennis
Roger Federer wins French Open. AAP Images
Roger Federer gloriously completed a career Grand Slam on Sunday by capturing a first French Open title, and a record-equalling 14th major, with a 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 win over Robin Soderling.
The 27-year-old world number two finally won a Roland Garros crown at the 11th attempt and in his fourth successive final having come up heartbreakingly short in the last three showdowns against Spanish nemesis Rafael Nadal.
His victory, ironically over the Swedish 23rd seed who shocked four-time Nadal in the last 16, took him level with great friend Pete Sampras as the holder of 14 Grand Slam titles.
He also moved into a select group made up only of Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi as men who have won all four of the Grand Slam events.
“It was probably my greatest victory, I was under big pressure. I did it and it’s phenomenal,” said Federer who broke down in tears after being presented with the trophy by Agassi, the 1999 champion, and while the Swiss national anthem was played.
“It was great to be on the podium as a winner for a change. Andre said it was my destiny to win this and that I deserved it.
Federer, who sent down 16 aces in the final, added: “Until the end of my career, I can play peacefully knowing that I will never again hear it said that I never won Roland Garros.”
Soderling, who has now lost 10 times in 10 meetings with Federer, admitted the Swiss was a deserving winner.
“Roger was too good for me today, he played much better. He is a worthy winner and for me he is the best player in history,” said Soderling.
“He gave me a lesson in how to play tennis.”
Any doubts over Federer’s ability to overcome his Paris jinx were quickly dashed as the Swiss star, playing in a record-equalling 19th Grand Slam final and riding a tidal wave of support, dominated Soderling.
He broke the first game on a Soderling double fault and was soon a second break to the good to lead 4-0 when a sweetly-timed drop shot left the Swede stranded behind the baseline.
Soderling, the first Swede in the Roland Garros final since his coach Magnus Norman finished runner-up to Gustavo Kuerten in 2000, stopped the rot with a hold to trail 4-1, but Federer quickly nipped further ahead to 5-1.
Soderling’s uncompromising forehand, which was a dagger to the heart of Nadal, was looking more like a blunt instrument in the damp and chilly conditions.
His service game crumbled again in the seventh game as Federer claimed the opening set.
It had taken just 23 minutes with the Swiss losing just two points on serve.
The final was then delayed by a worrying security breach during the fourth game of the second set with Federer ahead 2-1.
A spectator, dressed in red, waved a flag of the Barcelona football club in the world number two’s face before he was wrestled off Court Philippe Chatrier by security guards.
But the Swiss star wasn’t disrupted from his elegant stride, either by the intruder or the rain which started to steadily fall.
Although Soderling slowly rediscovered his service power, it was Federer who was comfortably dictating the points and he fired down four aces in the tie-break to open up a two-sets lead.
He was a break ahead in the third set to lead 1-0 before Soderling carved out, and squandered, his first break point of the match in the fourth game.
Federer then sent down his 16th ace of the tie to stretch to 4-2.
He came out to serve for a place in history but faltered to 30-40 with a wild, running forehand.
With pregnant wife Mirka looking anxiously on, he averted the crisis and went to match point with a confident volley and claimed victory when Soderling netted a service return after 1hr 55min on court.
A tearful Federer slumped to the Paris clay in celebration as he secured his place as arguably the greatest player of all time.
Roger Federer’s path to the 2009 French Open title (prefix number denotes seeding):
1st rd: bt Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-4 6-3 6-2
2nd rd: bt Jose Acasuso (ARG) 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-2
3rd rd: bt 32-Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-4
4th rd: bt Tommy Haas (GER) 6-7 (4-7) 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2
QF: bt 11-Gael Monfils (FRA) 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 6-4
SF: bt 5-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 6-1 6-4
F: bt 23-Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4
© AFP 2012ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
World ranking: 2
Birthdate: Aug 8, 1981
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Residence: Bottmingen, Switzerland
Height: 185cm (6’1″)
Weight: 85kg (187 lbs)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 1998Career singles titles: 59
Grand Slam singles titles: 14 (3 Australian, 1 French, 5 Wimbledon, 5 US)
Career prize money: $US47,648,210 ($A59.43 million)
Best French Open result: Winner (2009)
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June 8th 2009 @ 6:25pm
Justin said | June 8th 2009 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
Be thankful you are living in an era when you have Fed and Tiger. Incredible.
June 8th 2009 @ 6:56pm
Spiro Zavos said | June 8th 2009 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
Pete Sampras suggests that now Roger Federer is the greatest player of all time. I’ve got to disagree. Rod Laver was one of the six players to have won all the Grand Slam titles. He also won the Grand Slam in a year two times. His best years were spent out of the Grand Slam circuit playing professional tennis. How many more Grand Slam titles would he have won if tennis had been an open game during the whole of his career?
Federer is one of the great players in the history of the game, no doubt about this. I’d rank him higher than say Sampras because his game is more complete, and Sampras never won the French Open.
Federer also has never resorted to cheap tricks on the court to win tight matches. He has worked out the problems he has been having and generally suceeded. When he fails his emotions sometimes get the better of him, with tears welling up, but this is understandable for a player who competes with such an intensity to win.
Let’s call him the second greatest player of all time.
June 8th 2009 @ 6:59pm
Justin said | June 8th 2009 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
Spiro – I would never attempt to belittle the greatness of Laver. Amazing what he achieved having spent so many years banned. How many different surfaces did he win those GS’s on though? My understanding is 3 were grass and then the clay of RG. Either way to win on grass and clay is rare.
June 8th 2009 @ 7:38pm
ohtani's jacket, said | June 8th 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
The debate about the greatest player of all time will always continue. It’s one of the great sporting debates and a credit to tennis. Eventually, someone will knock Federer from the mantle.
You can make an argument for a bunch of different guys — Laver, Tilden, Borg, Gonzales, Rosewall, Budge, Lendl, Connors, Sampras, McEnroe, and Kramer, but there’s no set criteria because the game has evolved so much over the years. Federer didn’t have opportunities Laver had and vice versa.
June 8th 2009 @ 10:04pm
Rory said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
Yes the debate is endless, but as you said OJ it’s a good one. Before Federer it was always Laver for me. But one thing about Laver that is not always discussed is his rivalry with Rosewall. I think Rosewall had turned pro by the time Laver won his first Grand Slam, and Rosewall dominated Laver when Laver first entered the pro ranks. Rosewall would have won some grand slams between 58-62 if he wasn’t pro. They played a lot of matches during their pro years up till 1969, and a few good ones after that. So it could be said that if those years robbed Laver of some Grand Slam titles, they certainly also robbed Rosewall. No doubt he would have a Wimbledon trophy or two sitting in that big gap on his mantlepiece. The pro/amatuer divide of the 50′s/60′s will always cloud the matter of who was the greatest.
June 8th 2009 @ 10:45pm
sheek said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:45pm | Report comment
I’ve always been a Rod Laver fan, & as an Aussie, proud to say he’s the greatest male tennis player in history.
Until now……….
I felt Laver was able to stave off the challenge of both Pete Sampras & Andre Agassi, but not Roger Federer. Sampras failed to win the French, which was his black spot. Agassi won all 4 majors, but not enough of them.
Sure, Laver missed 5 years of majors (1963-67) when he was a professional, & he also won the grand slam twice (62 & 69). But there is a significant difference between when Laver played & now when Federer is playing.
In Laver’s day, 3 of the 4 majors were on grass. Today, each of the majors is a different surface. I don’t think this fact can be under-estimated. In any case, Federer trumps Sampras. He has a French, & his 14 majors have been won in almost half the time it took Sampras the win the same amount.
BTW, as a purely matter of interest, there is another name (or few) often thrown up for greatest male tennis player. The one I’m thinking of is the temperamental Mexican-American Pancho Gonzales. In an interview some years ago before he died, Gonzales rated Lew Hoad as the best of the Aussies he played (40s through 60s).
He didn’t think so highly of Laver, believing Laver lacked tactical nous. This stuck in my mind as this remains the only occasion I’ve read this about Laver.
June 8th 2009 @ 11:10pm
sheek said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:10pm | Report comment
Here’s some stats just to confuse you some more.
The open era (professional & amateur combined) dates from 1968.
The year in which players were officially ranked for the first time was 1973.
During the professional era (1940s through 1960s) there were 3 majors – Wembley (UK), US Pro & French Pro. I will concentrate on only 3 players – Gonzales, Rosewell & Laver.
Wembley:
Gonzales – (4) 1950-52, 54.
Rosewell – (2) 1964, 67.
Laver – (4) 1960-63.
US Pro:
Gonzales – (8) 1953-59, 61.
Rosewell – (2) 1963, 65.
Laver – (3) 1964, 66-67.
French Pro:
Gonzales – (nil).
Rosewell – (8) 1958, 1960-66.
Laver – (1) 1967.
Unofficial world number one rankings before 1973.
Gonzalez – (7) 1952, 54-60 (eq).
Rosewell – (6) 1960(eq)-64, 70 (3 way).
Laver – (6) 1965-70 (3 way)
In 1970, the number one ranking was shared between Rosewell, Laver & John Newcombe – all Aussies. Newcombe shared it again in 1971 with American Stan Smith, who was solo number one in 1972.
So I guess, this just adds a bit more confusion to the whole shebang!
June 8th 2009 @ 11:18pm
sheek said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:18pm | Report comment
An interesting spin on things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_male_players_statistics.
June 8th 2009 @ 11:29pm
jimbo said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:29pm | Report comment
The clay court monkey finally off Federer’s back and a truly amazing tennis record now.
Showed a lot of mental strength to deal with the intruders – on the court, as well as in his head.
One of the all time greats and still only 27.
Rafael Nadal is a great player too and carried a few injuries into this tournament.
He will bounce back to be an all time great as well.
Different eras, different palyers – its not easy to compare.
McEnroe had it on them all for sheer rudeness and aggro.
June 9th 2009 @ 12:30am
ohtani's jacket, said | June 9th 2009 @ 12:30am | Report comment
It’s a classic debate.
What I like about it is that it’s not simply a matter of who won the most Grand Slams or who spent the longest at No.1. Different guys accomplished different feats, and as Federer said in his post-match interview, it’s the legends of the game that create tennis history. And what a rich history it is.