Most coveted trophy: Switzerland's Roger Federer raises the trophy after defeating Sweden's Robin Soderling during their men's singles final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday. The victory gives Federer 14 Grand Slams, tying his career wins to American Pete Sampras. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Roger Federer beat Robin Soderling, tied Pete
Sampras and won the French Open at last.
Undeterred by an on-court intruder, Federer beat surprise
finalist Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 Sunday to complet a career
Grand Slam and win his 14th major title, matching Sampras' record.
On his fourth try at Roland Garros, Federer became the sixth man
to win all four Grand Slam championships.
When the stylish Swiss hit a service winner on championship
point, he fell on his knees to the clay that had vexed him for so
long, screamed and briefly buried his face in his hands. He was
teary by the time he met Soderling at the net, and fans gave Federer
a standing ovation as he raised his arms in triumph.
"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."
Playing in cool, windy weather and occasional rain, Federer raced
to a quick lead, sweeping the first four games. Soderling appeared
nervous at the start of his first Grand Slam final, and Federer kept
him scrambling with penetrating groundstrokes to both corners and an
occasional drop shot.
"You really gave me a lesson in how to play tennis today,"
Soderling said.
Federer's progress to the title was briefly delayed in the second
set. The match was between points when a spectator waving a flag
climbed through the photographer's pit and onto Federer's side of
the court.
Federer backed away toward the backstop, but the fan caught up
with him and tried to put a hat on Federer's head. Security
personnel seemed slow to react before chasing the man to the other
side of the court, and he was tackled, then carried out.
There was silence from the stunned crowd, then a chant of
"Ro-ger! Ro-ger!" when the episode ended. Federer adjusted his
headband, Soderling gave him a thumbs-up sign and play resumed.
Soderling's strokes steadied, and he pushed the second set to
6-all. But Federer played a brilliant tiebreaker, hitting aces on
all four of his service points, and Soderling could only smile
ruefully.
Federer broke again to start the third set and kept that lead the
rest of the way. He never lost serve, and despite the difficult
conditions, he had more winners than unforced errors - 41 to 24.
The 23rd-seeded Soderling had eased Federer's path by upsetting
four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round last
Sunday. Nadal beat Federer at Roland Garros the past four years,
including three consecutive times in the final.
Despite Nadal's surprising departure, Federer's path 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.
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. Federer will try for No. 15 beginning in two weeks at
Wimbledon, which he has won five times.
He has also won the U.S. Open the past five years, and he has
three Australian Open titles.
