June 7,2009 8:46 PM-He has done it!!! The man who was time and again crucified by critics around the world- Spanish, Russian,American, German,Indian for failing to go past just that single hurdle in his career- THE FRENCH OPEN VICTORY. Roger Federer is the man and he did it. He showed the world that unlike the great Pete Sampras, his closest rival in terms of number of grand slams victories, he had the spine and more importantly the game to win in Roland Garros. Ruled for four years by current world no:1 and Roger's long term nemesis, Rafael Nadal, this was perhaps the only eluding jewel in an otherwise illustrious career.
This places him alongside "Pistol Pete" for most number of grand slam victories-14. At 27, Roger still has a lot more years to go past Sampras and create a record number of grand slams, which i believe cannot be breached by anyone in the years or perhaps, decades to come.But, all these records aside,Roger Federer is a true legend beyond any comparison. After a string of defeats and losing his No:1 crown to the Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, many wrote off Federer just like that.To be fair,he also didnot show any of his regal touch of class for a long time. The critics(read "Nadal's fans") ridiculed the way he surrendered to Rafael Nadal's power play in three of the four grand slam finals last year.
An emotional Federer was left weeping inconsolably after his defeat to Nadal in the French open final last year. His fans and also the game's greatest including Sampras were running out of ideas to defend the Swiss master. 2008-09 was the worst year for Roger Federer in terms of win-loss ratio.All this time, the new world no:1, Nadal was marching through and was playing the best tennis of his career rubbishing claims that he is a one-surface wonder. He began to win on all surfaces- grass, hard court or clay, he mastered it all. He reached his peak winning the Wimbledon 2008(grass) and the Australian open 2009(hard court) and the Olympic gold medal.
Federer with just one grand slam to equal Sampras record went into this year's French Open, the place he was beaten by Nadal four consecutive times, as a clear underdog.Nadal brezeed past his opponents in his favoutite surface while Federer was made to work hard to win his early rounds. He seemed a shadow of his gloroius past.
Second week of French open and there came the surprise. Nadal was beaten in 4 sets by a lesser known opponent from Sweden,Robin Soderling. This boosted Federer chances and he started feeling his rhytm and came back from 2 sets down to beat Tommy Haas.He started to feel confident and was soon in the finals against Soderling, the man who defeated Nadal. The occasion was overwhelming for Soderling and Federer took advantage and won the first two sets easily.Then after stiff resistance from Soderling in the third set, closed the match and realised his dream, winning the French Open for the first time. An emotional Federer could not believe it and fell to the ground in tears.
"It takes away so much pressure. Now, I can play in peace for the rest of my career. Nobody will never tell me again that I have not won Roland Garros. It's nice to be up here on the podium as a winner this time", told the champion.
More than his game, his grit and determination won him the honours on that beautiful Sunday evening in Paris.As told by Roger himself, his critics can stay calm now that he has won in all the surfaces.Maybe its time for Nadal to prove that he can achieve atleast half as many grand slams as Federer has won. Federer has proved everything and achieved everything in tennis that he will play more calmer and without pressure and win many more grandslams. I just feel, come July 5 and Federer would be posing with his Wimbledon title. Even if quits the game today, Federer will be hailed the greatest player in tennis history and all his so called present-day competitors will have to show the longevity that Federer has been able to show and sustain for about a decade in competitive tennis winning every crown in tennis history.
As far as long haired Spaniard is concerned, he has show the flare and panache of Federer, to come anywhere close to him and not just raw physical power, which cannot be sustained. Heard that Nadal's knee is already giving up. What's the news there?!!!
