Roger Federer won the French Open to tie Pete Sampras’s record of 14 major singles tennis titles and become the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Roger Federer gloriously completed a career Grand Slam on Sunday by capturing a record-equalling 14th major with a 6-1 7-6(7-1) 6-4 demolition of Robin Soderling in the French Open final.
The 27-year-old world No.2 finally won the Coupe des Mousquetaires on his 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 champion Nadal in the last 16, took him level with great friend Pete Sampras as the holder of 14 Grand Slam men’s singles titles.
He also moved into an elite group made up only of Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi as men who have won all four of Grand Slam events.
Soderling, who has now lost 10 times in 10 meetings to 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 from the start.
He broke in the very first game of the match and was soon a second break to the good to lead 4-0.
Soderling stemmed 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.
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 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.
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