And he does it....his 14th Grand Slam title...
So Federer finally did it. He managed to capture the elusive Coupes des Mousquetaires, in the process becoming only the sixth man (after Andre Agassi, Rod Laves, Roy Emerson, Don Budge and Fred Perry) to win all four Grand Slam tournaments. It has been heartbreaking for a Federer fan (someone like me) to watch him lose on the clay courts year after year. Nadal, who usurped the No.1 ranking from the Swiss maestro in August last year, proved himself to be invincible on the red surface as his winning streak stretched to a fantastic 48 on clay. But Robin Soderling, the Swiss underdog, did French Open (and Federer) an enormous favour when he ousted the world no.1 last Sunday, in four sets, playing some of the best tennis of his life. One of the biggest upsets in the Open era, the defending champion crashed out in the fourth round, unable to respond to Soderling’s booming serves, cracking aces and crisp forehands.
It was all for Federer’s taking after this. Top seeds fell like dominos. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Nikolay Davydenko – all crashed out after Nadal’s exit. Never, if not now. Faced with ever-increasing pressure and some wilting confidence, Federer had to simply grab the bull by the horns.
Here is a list of the champion’s majors:
1. Wimbledon 2003: A 21-year-old Federer beat Mark Philippoussis almost effortlessly in straight sets, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). This was the first time he had proceeded into the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament.
2. Australian Open 2004: Federer beat Marat Safin in straight sets again, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2, in a one-sided final. He captured the No.1 ranking soon after it.
3. Wimbledon 2004: Federer beat Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to capture his third major title.
4. US Open 2004: Federer’s 6-0, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 triumph over Lleyton Hewitt made him the first man in 16 years to win three major titles in the same year.
5. Wimbledon 2005: Federer achieved a hattrick as he won the grass court tournament with complete ease, beating Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. He called his performance “flawless”, one of the best in his life.
6. US Open 2005: Federer defended his title in Flushing Meadows by beating Andre Agassi 6-3 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 in front of the veteran’s home crowd.
7. Australian Open 2006: Federer beat surprise finalist Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 for his second title in Melbourne.
8. Wimbledon 2006: Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 for his fourth successive triumph at the All-England Tennis and Croquet Championship.
9. US Open 2006: Federer beat Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to win his ninth major title. In the process, he moved past Fred Perry and Andre Agassi, each of whom have won eight Grand Slam tournaments.
10. Australian Open 2007: Federer strolled past Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4 to capture his 10th grand slam. He became the first man since 1980 to win a major tournament without dropping a set. An emotional Federer broke down when tennis legend Rod Laver presented him the ( ) trophy.
11. Wimbledon 2007: Federer beat his arch-rival Nadal 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-2 in an epic five-setter that continued for almost four hours. The champion became only the second man after Bjorn Borg to win five consecutive Wimbledon trophies in the Open era.
12. US Open 2007: Federer solidified his promise of breaking Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles by winning his fourth US Open crown in a row. He beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
13. US Open 2008: Federer won the only Grand Slam last year when he comfortably beat Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2. He had been beaten by Nadal in both the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments earlier in the year. For the first time, Federer looked vulnerable on grass as well, the chinks in his armour having been so cruelly exposed by his nemesis.
14. French Open 2009: Federer finally won his first crown on the much-dreaded clay court major by beating surprise finalist Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. By doing so, he equalled Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
It was all for Federer’s taking after this. Top seeds fell like dominos. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Nikolay Davydenko – all crashed out after Nadal’s exit. Never, if not now. Faced with ever-increasing pressure and some wilting confidence, Federer had to simply grab the bull by the horns.
Here is a list of the champion’s majors:
1. Wimbledon 2003: A 21-year-old Federer beat Mark Philippoussis almost effortlessly in straight sets, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). This was the first time he had proceeded into the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament.
2. Australian Open 2004: Federer beat Marat Safin in straight sets again, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2, in a one-sided final. He captured the No.1 ranking soon after it.
3. Wimbledon 2004: Federer beat Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to capture his third major title.
4. US Open 2004: Federer’s 6-0, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 triumph over Lleyton Hewitt made him the first man in 16 years to win three major titles in the same year.
5. Wimbledon 2005: Federer achieved a hattrick as he won the grass court tournament with complete ease, beating Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. He called his performance “flawless”, one of the best in his life.
6. US Open 2005: Federer defended his title in Flushing Meadows by beating Andre Agassi 6-3 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 in front of the veteran’s home crowd.
7. Australian Open 2006: Federer beat surprise finalist Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 for his second title in Melbourne.
8. Wimbledon 2006: Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 for his fourth successive triumph at the All-England Tennis and Croquet Championship.
9. US Open 2006: Federer beat Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to win his ninth major title. In the process, he moved past Fred Perry and Andre Agassi, each of whom have won eight Grand Slam tournaments.
10. Australian Open 2007: Federer strolled past Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4 to capture his 10th grand slam. He became the first man since 1980 to win a major tournament without dropping a set. An emotional Federer broke down when tennis legend Rod Laver presented him the ( ) trophy.
11. Wimbledon 2007: Federer beat his arch-rival Nadal 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-2 in an epic five-setter that continued for almost four hours. The champion became only the second man after Bjorn Borg to win five consecutive Wimbledon trophies in the Open era.
12. US Open 2007: Federer solidified his promise of breaking Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles by winning his fourth US Open crown in a row. He beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
13. US Open 2008: Federer won the only Grand Slam last year when he comfortably beat Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2. He had been beaten by Nadal in both the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments earlier in the year. For the first time, Federer looked vulnerable on grass as well, the chinks in his armour having been so cruelly exposed by his nemesis.
14. French Open 2009: Federer finally won his first crown on the much-dreaded clay court major by beating surprise finalist Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. By doing so, he equalled Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
Comments
Post a Comment