But I've come to terms with it and I try not to look back too much and when I look back I try to feel the positive things I achieved and all the positive things I've been through. Roger Federer wins at Roland Garros to enter pantheon of grand slam greats ... Sun 7 Jun 2009 11.15 EDT First published on Sun 7 Jun 2009 11.15 EDT. Federer retreated as far back as he could go on the court, to just underneath the front row of the President’s Box, but the intruder was persistent and tried to force a red hat on to the player’s head. "To me you are the greatest player in history. My plan was to keep playing on for much longer than I was able to. And overall I think that tennis gave me a lot of things and I'm really happy I managed to reach many of my goals.“I realise now when I think about it, many people remember me as the guy that beat Nadal, which is nice but I did so much more stuff in my career than just beating Nadal once.“I competed against the best players in history and I was up there. Federer also equalled Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles.Federer beat Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), and 6-4 in just under two hours and with rain falling for much of the final. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.French Open pundit gives brutal Federer vs Nadal verdict,French Open: Roger Federer picks French star to prepare for Nadal,Roger Federer won the French Open in 2009,Robin Soderling stunned Rafael Nadal back in 2009,Roger Federer and Robin Soderling with Andre Agassi in 2009,Novak Djokovic delivers heartfelt judgement on Nadal and Federer,Roger Federer reveals the one thing that stresses him out,Robin Soderling was honest about his shortcomings,Robin Soderling has created his own brand of tennis gear,EXCLUSIVE: Only Novak Djokovic can beat Rafael Nadal at French Open,EXCLUSIVE: Novak Djokovic to beat Roger Federer record - Soderling,EXCLUSIVE: French Open can boost Roger Federer’s Wimbledon hopes,EXCLUSIVE: Pat Cash reveals what Roger Federer needs at French Open. 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French Open June 7 marks the tenth anniversary of his one and only French Open title and he will face his great rival Nadal for a chance to win his second.Injury and the need to rest his weary legs meant the Swiss missed the past three French Opens but it has felt poignant that Federer returned this year, a decade after completing his Grand Slams haul.Federer lost to Nadal in the three finals prior to 2009, but that year the Spaniard was no longer in his path.Step forward Sweden's Robin Soderling, who became the first man to beat Nadal in France, which he calls the turning point in his career.“I kind of had my real breakthrough at the French Open [because] beating Rafa meant it was the first time I passed the fourth round in a Grand Slam," Soderling told,"I knew I could play really well, I had beaten top players before, I played extremely good tennis most of the time in smaller tournaments. No problem. 2009: Roger Federer is crowned ... Roger Federer finally won his first Roland Garros title. No one believes I have a chance to win.’,"Going into that match I told myself so many times that I can actually win this match. newspaper archive.Express. But then all of a sudden I realised ‘OK this is the final of the Grand Slam and I have a chance’. This year, Nadal was beaten in the fourth round by Soderling. Tuy nhiên, Soderling đã trở thành một phần của lịch sử khi là tay vợt Thụy Điển đầu tiên lọt vào chung kết tại Paris kể từ sau chính HLV của anh, Magnus Norman năm 2000. [But] against Roger, it was difficult.”.With light rain in the air and Federer serving for the match at 5-4, Soderling earned himself a break point but framed a forehand up into the air.Federer shook his fist in relief as wife Mirka clasped her hands together in prayer, then one more swing of his Wilson racket was enough for him to win his first Roland Garros title.Could Soderling feel happy for Federer at that point?“I don't think I've ever been happy for my opponents [straight after a loss] because I really wanted to win," he said.“But after a while looking back, that's the only time he won French Open and I think a player like Roger, he's arguably the best player in history. And I was not experienced enough to perform that day I think.“Roger had played so many Grand Slams already back then. The first set lasted just 23 minutes, with Federer dominant on a cold, damp court with a swirling wind. order back issues and use the historic Daily Express Robert Soderling managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in tennis history when he managed to beat Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the French Open. I can now go the rest of my career without worrying that I would never win the French Open," said Federer.Soderling, playing in his first slam final, and watched by fellow countryman Bjorn Borg who won this title six times, was rarely in the match, but made Federer serve it out. I would like them to maybe remember me as a guy who always fought.”.But for Federer, once again, all roads lead to Nadal in his quest to reach 21.See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, ".The only moment when Federer was unnerved came at 2-1 in the second set when a spectator ran onto the court in a Swiss shirt and with a Barcelona flag, and tried to place a hat on Federer's head. "You gave me a lesson how to play," he said afterwards. This was altogether something different to what happened at the 1996 Wimbledon final, when a young woman provided some pre-match entertainment by running around in nothing but a small apron. I would say mentally I wasn’t really prepared enough or experienced enough.”.A chronic bout of mononucleosis, a viral illness also known as glandular fever, would force Soderling to retire in 2015 and he has since started his own business manufacturing a range of tennis balls and accessories.“I was thinking about what I want to do with my life. Robin Soderling spoke about how tough it is to play against Roger Federer, and how good the Swiss was in the 2009 final. The better I became, the margins were smaller so the more interested in materials and having the right equipment I became.“Obviously, it was a tough decision to retire, I wasn't ready. On Tuesday, it was Federer's turn for an unexpected defeat. Roger Federer: Robin Soderling relives French Open 09 and beating Rafael Nadal - EXCLUSIVE WHEN Roger Federer arrives at the Stade Roland Garros … Beating Nadal in the fourth round? He had been on the court for almost 20 seconds before he was rugby-tackled by a security guard. Trước Roland Garros 2009, Soderling chưa một lần vào đến vòng 3 của các giải Masters. "Against other top players, they're extremely good but at least for me, I knew what to expect. Robin Soderling created one of the biggest shocks in tennis history when he managed to beat Rafael Nadal at the 2009 Roland Garros. ".That confidence manifested itself on court as Soderling blew Nadal away in the first set and kept his nerve after a wobble to record a famous victory.Soderling then beat Fernando Gonzalez to book a place in his first Grand Slam final against Federer, but the odds were stacked against him as the Swiss eyed history.And he made the worst possible start as Federer broke twice in the opening set on the way to winning 6-1 and then second set tiebreak.“For me, Roger was always my most difficult opponent,” he said. “This might just be the greatest victory of my career. The mixed tears of joy and relief ran slowly down Roger Federer's face as he held aloft the Coupe des Mousquetaires having finally won the French Open title in his fourth successive final. 2010: Nadal wreaks revenge on Söderling Monday 6 May 2019. Although Nadal did not watch Sunday’s match at home in Majorca, he said that he would be sending a text message to Federer to congratulate him. Federer was disturbed by the incident, and lost his rhythm for a few games. Corinne Dubreuil / FFT. On Federer’s first match point, Soderling’s return went no further than the net.Federer had only just dropped to his knees, and put his head in his hands, when the tears started to flow. And I almost went on the court because of that thinking like I was the favourite. Photograph: Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images. ... As Soderling put Federer… "I'm happy for him that he won French Open. And that's when I realised you know ‘OK. And now on to Wimbledon, to the petunias, the ivy-covered walls, and the tournament where Roger Federer could become the first man to win 15 grand-slam titles.Federer’s defeat of Robin Soderling gave him a first French Open title, made him only the sixth man to achieve the career grand slam, put him level with Pete Sampras on a record 14 majors, and surely brought confirmation that he is the greatest tennis player of all time.So, quite an afternoon, then. On this occasion, the intruder made contact with a player.It was early in the second set that the man, who was wearing a Swiss shirt and carrying a Barcelona flag, suddenly appeared on Court Philippe Chatrier. But trying to stop Federer winning the Musketeers’ Cup, that appeared to be too much for the Swede to handle. For the first time in the tournament, it seemed as though Soderling, the world No 25 appearing in his first slam final, looked unsure of himself. “Roger is the person who deserves the title the most,” the world No 1 said.There was never any doubt as to which player the crowd favoured, as every time Federer won a point the noise in the stadium was twice, or even three times, what it was after Soderling had won one. So he became only the sixth man in tennis history to win all four slam titles, with Andre Agassi, the last man to do it in 1999, presenting him with the trophy. In 2009, Soderling beat four-time champion Rafael Nadal to clear Federer's path to his first French Open title and a career Grand Slam. I’m so proud,” said Federer, who accepted the Coupe des Mousquetaires from Andre Agassi, another member of the Career Grand Slam Club. The man, who is believed to be Spanish, made for the world No 2. He’d been at that stage so many times. Federer grabs the elusive title at Roland Garros by beating surprise finalist Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4. I was number four in the world and won a Masters series title. But he is frank in his assessment of how he played Federer in the final.“I played maybe my worst match [of the French Open] in the final. And it had. In took security 18 seconds to bring him down, a huge embarrassment to the French authorities.Federer lost three points in a row after the incident as Soderling levelled for 2-2. But Federer quickly recovered his composure to join Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Don Budge and Fred Perry as the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.• Federer becomes only sixth man to win all four grand slams,Roger Federer celebrates after beating Robin Soderling to win the French Open for the first time. I wouldn’t say that even if I played my best match I would have beaten Roger that day,” Soderling admitted.“But I think, going into the match all of a sudden it was a Grand Slam final. Before it was like a fourth round or semi-finals or whatever. "This was my greatest victory," said Federer, although undoubtedly the greatest win of all at this year's tournament belonged to his opponent Soderling who the previous Sunday has shocked tennis to its roots by defeating Rafa Nadal, the four times.Soderling's dramatic win in the fourth round took away the player who had stood four square between history and Federer for the last three years, the only player to have ever beaten Federer in a slam final, including last year's Wimbledon and this year's Australian Open. " The Swiss had lost the three previous finals to Nadal. “It was a touch scary,” he admitted.But he gathered himself and thankfully, the incident did not affect the outcome of the most important day of Federer’s tennis life.