26-05-2025
Roger Federer recalls French Open 2009 win: Relieved I didn't face Rafael Nadal
For Roger Federer, the French Open was the one major title that had eluded him. That changed in 2009, when he defeated Sweden's Robin Soderling in straight sets in the final to claim his first - and only - Roland Garros Federer's breakthrough, Rafael Nadal had dominated the clay-court major, winning it four consecutive times since his debut in Federer may not have lifted the trophy if not for an upset earlier in the tournament. Nadal, who was widely expected to reach the final, was defeated in the fourth round by Soderling—clearing the path for Federer to avoid a head-to-head clash with his long-time rival.
On Sunday, the French Open paid an emotional tribute to Nadal, who retired from professional tennis last November. Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray were present at Roland Garros to honour Nadal's incredible legacy, which includes a record 14 French Open titles - the most by any player at a single Grand Slam.'Pressure was immense'Reflecting on his 2009 triumph, Federer admitted he was relieved not to have faced Nadal, who still holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles at one meant a lot to me, because it was the last Grand Slam that I was still missing. For me, I had won all the others by 2004, so I had to wait a good five, six years maybe to win the French Open. So, of course, when I won it finally, on a rainy day here in Paris and I came through in the final, it was a beautiful moment,' Federer told Mary-Joe Fernandez on TNT.'The pressure was immense [the year I won] because I knew, 'Okay, maybe I don't have to go through Rafa'. That's how tennis works sometimes. But the relief was incredible, and I never got the chance again. Rafa was there at the door and said, 'Sorry pal, it is my turn again',' Federer Nadal and Roger Federer first faced each other at the 2024 ATP Masters 1000 in Miami. Over the course of their legendary rivalry, they played 40 matches, with Nadal leading the head-to-head 24– last singles encounter was in the 2019 Wimbledon semi-final, where Federer triumphed in four sets. The two also teamed up for doubles in Federer's farewell match at the 2022 Laver Reel
