HAIL KING FEDERER!
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. Federer defeated 23rd-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on the red clay at a rainy Roland Garros on Sunday.Sampras, who retired in 2002, never won the French Open in 13 tries. Federer fell to the court in tears after Soderling hit a return into the net to end the match.
The Swiss master equalled Pete Sampras’ long standing 14 Grand Slam titles in half the time the American took and is set for more even as his lone rival seems to be Nadal.
“It’s probably my best win because it was the one that presented the most pressure,” the champion said on French television. “Now I can play easier.”
Federer’s path to the championship was opened last weekend when Soderling beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who had stopped the Swiss in Paris in the past three finals. Third-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland and fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia also were knocked out before the semifinals.
Andre Agassi, the last man to win all four major tournaments in his career with his 1999 victory at Roland Garros, presented Federer with the Trophy in the middle of the court. He hoisted the Trophy above his head, kissing it and circling to show the crowd.
The 27-year-old Federer joins Agassi, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Fred Perry as the only men to win each of the four majors — Wimbledon and the U.S., Australian and French opens. The feat is “a great credit” in judging Federer against the sport’s greatest players, said Bud Collins, a broadcaster and tennis historian for more than 40 years.
“Roger is wonderful to watch, he is smooth, he is a good competitor,” Collins said in Paris in a June 4 interview.
DRAMA
Federer’s straight-set win wasn’t without drama. At the beginning of the second set, a man with a flag ran onto Court Philippe Chatrier and disturbed play as Federer was ready to receive serve. The man tried to put a red hat on Federer’s head and then jumped over the net as he was chased by security. Guards tackled him on Soderling’s side, picked him up and threw him over the geraniums on the court side.
“We are going to see history,” Agassi told reporters at Roland Garros on Saturday. “Roger, being the second-best clay court player over the last five years, earning his spot in the finals three different times, deserves this more than I did.”
Ranked No. 2 in the world by the men’s ATP World Tour, Federer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in his record 20th straight Grand Slam semifinal two days ago. Soderling beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6- 4 in the other semifinal.
HISTORY
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. Federer defeated 23rd-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on the red clay at a rainy Roland Garros on Sunday.Sampras, who retired in 2002, never won the French Open in 13 tries. Federer fell to the court in tears after Soderling hit a return into the net to end the match.
The Swiss master equalled Pete Sampras’ long standing 14 Grand Slam titles in half the time the American took and is set for more even as his lone rival seems to be Nadal.
“It’s probably my best win because it was the one that presented the most pressure,” the champion said on French television. “Now I can play easier.”
Federer’s path to the championship was opened last weekend when Soderling beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who had stopped the Swiss in Paris in the past three finals. Third-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland and fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia also were knocked out before the semifinals.
Andre Agassi, the last man to win all four major tournaments in his career with his 1999 victory at Roland Garros, presented Federer with the Trophy in the middle of the court. He hoisted the Trophy above his head, kissing it and circling to show the crowd.
The 27-year-old Federer joins Agassi, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Fred Perry as the only men to win each of the four majors — Wimbledon and the U.S., Australian and French opens. The feat is “a great credit” in judging Federer against the sport’s greatest players, said Bud Collins, a broadcaster and tennis historian for more than 40 years.
“Roger is wonderful to watch, he is smooth, he is a good competitor,” Collins said in Paris in a June 4 interview.
DRAMA
Federer’s straight-set win wasn’t without drama. At the beginning of the second set, a man with a flag ran onto Court Philippe Chatrier and disturbed play as Federer was ready to receive serve. The man tried to put a red hat on Federer’s head and then jumped over the net as he was chased by security. Guards tackled him on Soderling’s side, picked him up and threw him over the geraniums on the court side.
“We are going to see history,” Agassi told reporters at Roland Garros on Saturday. “Roger, being the second-best clay court player over the last five years, earning his spot in the finals three different times, deserves this more than I did.”
Ranked No. 2 in the world by the men’s ATP World Tour, Federer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in his record 20th straight Grand Slam semifinal two days ago. Soderling beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6- 4 in the other semifinal.
HISTORY
Federer has won 14 majors in half the time it took Sampras. The American needed 12 years to win 14 Grand Slams; Federer’s run started six years ago at Wimbledon. Sampras never reached a French Open final; Federer has been to the last four. Federer was ranked No. 1 in the world for a record 237 straight weeks, and his run of Grand Slam semifinals also is the longest in history.
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