Roger Federer defeated Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 in the Roland Garros final to became the sixth man in history who win all four Grand Slam singles titles! This victory also equal him with Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 14 major singles titles.

"This is the most satisfying win of my life, along with my first Wimbledon," Federer said. “I have tried for so many years, so there was much pressure involved... I always believed in it but it becomes harder with time.”

Federer said that he felt extra pressure after Soderling’s surprise fourth-round win over Rafael Nadal. “You never want anyone to lose, but I was relieved [when Nadal was knocked out] as I knew he would be the hardest player to beat. But then the press said if you don’t come through this year you are a bad player. It feels like I have played three or four finals.”


Andre Agassi, who was the last man to complete the career Grand Slam in the 1999 when he won Roland Garros, presented Coupe des Mousquetaires to Federer. He was, like Federer, playing at Roland Garros for the 11th time and came into the clay-court major with an almost identical match record to Federer – having compiled a 31-10 record at Roland Garros, while Federer entered with a 32-10 mark.

Roger won his 14th major singles title when playing in just his 40th Grand Slam tournament, while Sampras achieved the feat at his 52nd major and he broke the record that Sampras held since the 2002 US Open, when he defeated Agassi in an all-American final before immediately retiring from professional tennis, aged 31.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Federer: [On the end of the match] "I was very nervous at the beginning of the third set because I realized how close I was. The last game, obviously you can imagine how difficult that game was. It was almost unplayable for me because I was just hoping to serve some good serves and hoping that he was going to make four errors. It was that bad. It was an emotional roller coaster for me."

[On the career Grand Slam] "I just think it's an unbelievable achievement. I'm very proud of my career, obviously. I achieved more than I ever thought I would. My dream as boy was to win Wimbledon one day. I won that five times. To get it (Roland Garros) at the end as the last remaining Grand Slam, it's an incredible feeling. The waiting and the age definitely has a big impact on how important and how nice this victory actually is. It's been a long time coming, and I'm happy I got it today. I'm very proud."

Soderling: [On the match] "I think I didn't play aggressive enough. Every time I played Roger, after the match I always said I played so bad today. Now I learned that it's not that I played bad, he makes me play bad. So that's what's so difficult playing against him."

[On Federer] "He's a great player. He doesn't have any weaknesses at all. He really deserves to be called the best player of all time, I think."

[On reaching his first Grand Slam final] "I had a great tournament. I had the two best weeks of my career so far. I've been playing some very good matches and I've been beating some very good players. For sure this gives me a lot more confidence. I think now I really showed to myself that I can do well in Grand Slams."


Federer's Run To 14

ATP stats and information guru Greg Sharko looks at the numbers behind Roger Federer's history-making run to 14 Grand Slam titles.

1 - Roland Garros title (2009) and Rafael Nadal (only player he's lost to in a Grand Slam final)

2 - Ranking at time of Roland Garros title (two other times - '08 US Open, '04 Australian Open)

3 - Australian Open titles won (2004,'06-07)

4 - Times reached final (minimum) in each of the Grand Slam tournaments

5 - Wimbledon (2003-2007) and US Open (2004-2008) titles won and number of times he's lost to Nadal in Slam finals

6 - Sets lost during his title run at Roland Garros, the most of his Grand Slam title runs, and how many different players to complete a career Grand Slam

7 - Consecutive years of winning at least one Grand Slam title

8 - Losses in his streak of 20 consecutive semi-final or better Grand Slam appearances and Grand Slam hard court titles between US Open (5) and Australian Open (3)

9 - Countries of opponents he's beaten in Grand Slam finals (Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and U.S.)

10 - Record consecutive Grand Slam finals reached between 2005 Wimbledon and 2007 US Open

11 - Appearances at Roland Garros before winning first title (same as Andre Agassi) and number of different opponents he's beaten in Grand Slam finals

12 -Titles won in his streak of 20 consecutive semi-final or better Grand Slam appearances

13 - Last year's US Open where Federer won his previous Grand Slam title

14- Ties Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the history of men's tennis


Upon receiving 2000 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points Federer is now virtually assured of his place at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, where he is a four-time former champion. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has already booked his place at the elite eight-man event, to be held for the first time at London’s O2 Arena.


You can read more on Roger's victory on the ATP Tour official website.


(photo/Getty Images)

And finally he did it! Roger Federer wins Roland Garros, his 14th major singles title!!