Inspired Federer conquers clay, equals record

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-08 09:33

PARIS - Roger Federer ended his French Open jinx when he swept past Swede Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 6-4 in the final to clinch his first Roland Garros title on Sunday.

Inspired Federer conquers clay, equals record

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009. [Agencies]

The Swiss equalled Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles and became the sixth man to win all four major tournaments, sealing victory in just under two hours in cloudy conditions.

List of grand slams that Pete Sampras and Roger Federer
Pete Sampras 14 grand slams

1990 U.S. Open 1993 Wimbledon, U.S. Open
1994 Australian Open, Wimbledon 1995 Wimbledon, U.S. Open
1996 U.S. Open
1997 Australian Open, Wimbledon 1998 Wimbledon
1999 Wimbledon
2000 Wimbledon 2002 U.S. Open

Roger Federer 14 grand slams
2003 Wimbledon
2004 Australian Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open
2005 Wimbledon, U.S. Open
2006 Australian Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open
2007 Australian Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open
2008 U.S. Open
2009 French Open

"It was really not easy to deal with my emotions," said the 27-year-old Federer, who lost to world number one Rafael Nadal in the three previous finals.

"It might be the greatest victory of my career."

The 23rd-seeded Soderling had ended Nadal's four-year reign on the Paris clay in the fourth round.

"To me, he is the best player in history," the Swede said.

Federer, the second man after Andre Agassi to win all four grand slam titles on four different surfaces, started the match confidently by racing into a 4-0 lead with two breaks.

Soderling held serve for 4-1 but Federer, who had never lost to Soderling in nine previous matches, kept up the pressure and clinched the first set on the Swede's serve with a crosscourt passing shot.

BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED

The match was briefly interrupted after a man came on to Centre Court with a red and blue flag during the fourth game of the second set.

The man jumped from the stand opposite the media box and approached Federer, touching him with the flag.

Leaping over the net towards Soderling, the man was tackled by Roland Garros security officers and carried away from the court.

Federer lost three points in a row after the incident as Soderling levelled for 2-2.

Both players held serve to a tiebreak which Federer cruised through 7-1 after serving four aces.

The Swiss broke in the first game of the third set when his opponent sent a forehand wide and he never found a solution to turn the situation around.

Federer ended his wait on the first match point when Soderling netted a service return, the Swiss falling on his knee in tears and triggering a deafening roar from the 15,000 crowd.

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