Switzerland’s Roger Federer beat surprise finalist Robin Soderling of Sweden, 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on Sunday to win the French Open.
By adding the French title to his five apiece from Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and three from the Australian Open, one of the sport’s greatest players has joined an exclusive club. He became only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam and this one, his 14th major title, matches Pete Sampras’ all-time record. Federer won his 14th Grand Slam championship at age 27. Sampras, who never reached a French Open final, was 31 when he won his last major title.
The No. 23-seeded Soderling had eased Federer’s path by upsetting four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round the previous Sunday. Nadal had beaten Federer at Roland Garros the past four years, including three consecutive times in the final. But Federer’s own journey to the title wasn’t easy. He rallied from a two-set deficit in the fourth round to beat Tommy Haas, and survived another five-setter against Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinals.
“It’s maybe my greatest victory, or certainly the one that removes the most pressure off my shoulders,” Federer said. “I think that now and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace, and no longer hear that I’ve never won Roland Garros.”
The most recent man to complete a career Grand Slam when he won at Roland Garros 10 years ago, Andre Agassi, presented Federer with the trophy.
Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver are the others that have accomplished this feat, but comparing greatness across the generations is a bit challenging since the sport was long divided into the amateur game and the professional game, with professionals unable to compete in the Grand Slam tournaments until the sport went open in 1968.
In any event, there can be no doubt that Roger Federer deserves to be part of any conversation when it comes to brilliance on the tennis court.
roger is one of the greats there can be no doubt
Federer got some help. It would have been interesting if he could’ve taken Nadal this time around. Nevertheless, he was the one that endured and is simply a tremendous player.
It wont be long for Roger to own the slam record by himself. what a talent.
even before his French win Roger deserves to be mentioned among the very best of all-time.