Roger Federer Wins at Roland Garros to Enter Pantheon of Grand Slam Greats

Steve 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. 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. Federer also equaled 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. As Soderling put Federer's last serve into the net, the Swiss dropped to his knees on clay as if history had suddenly pushed him to ground. And it had.

"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 French Open champion who was attempting to become the first man ever to win five in succession.

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. " 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. "You gave me a lesson how to play," he said afterwards. "To me you are the greatest player in history."

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. 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 leveled 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.