AFP afpji

Grand Slam king Federer has time on his side

Mon 08 Jun, 09:59 AM


PARIS (AFP) - Roger Federer, with a first French Open and a career Grand Slam carved into his storyboard of achievements, believes he is poised for another record-setting spell, with time stacked in his favour.

The Swiss maestro realised a lifetime dream of finally lifting a Roland Garros title to become only the sixth man in history to win all four majors with his 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam trophies.

Roger Federer

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But Federer, who is not 28 until August, vowed there is more to come, with his professional ambition fuelled further by his private life soon to be enriched by wife Mirka bearing their first child.

Federer, acutely aware of the history of the sport, knows that Sampras was four years older, at 31, when he won his last Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2002.

Andre Agassi was already 29 when he won in Paris in 1999 to become the fifth man to complete the Grand Slam.

The colourful American, who presented the French Open trophy to Federer on Sunday, won the last major of his career, his eighth in total, at the Australian Open in 2003 when he was 33.

--AFP/Bertrand Guay

AFP/Bertrand Guay
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Agassi was still reaching Grand Slam finals at 35, when he lost the 2005 US Open final to Federer.

The Swiss also knows that more majors will only serve to finish, once and for all, arguments over who is the greatest player of all time.

Robin Soderling

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"I just tried to have the best possible career I can. I think it should be judged at the very end. How well did I do? Good? Great? Very good? Or medium? It's for other people to decide," said Federer.

"Right now, I'm still playing. I haven't retired, and I think I still have many more tournaments to go and many more Grand Slams.

"I'll give it my best shot to have the best possible career.

"I hope I can maintain the records I have and I hope to break some other ones along the way. I hope to stay healthy. That's most important because motivation and drive is not a problem for me."

Next Grand Slam stop for Federer will be the All England Club from June 22

where he will attempt to win back the Wimbledon title he had held for five years until Rafael Nadal took it back to Spain last year.

Nadal, who had defeated Federer in the last three finals in Paris, had himself been knocked out in the fourth round here by Soderling.

The world number one, so long Federer's nemesis, is now a doubt for Wimbledon because of a knee injury, a factor that only serves to boost the new French Open c

hampion's outlook on life and career.

"If I had to retire tomorrow I would be happy because I feel like I've put everything out there," added Federer.

"I always said it doesn't matter when I retire, I'll be at peace. I can walk away from this game tomorrow, but I don't choose to because I love this game too much.

"Tennis is not forever; I know that. But I'll try to definitely enjoy it as long as I can."

 

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. CONGRATULATION ROGER.

    YOUR NAME WAS MENTIONED NOW ON­ LIST OF FRENCH OPEN - "RG"

    GOD BLESS YOU

    From Luzaiamo Zola Antonio, on Mon 15 Jun 11:36AM

  2. federer is the uncrowned king of tennis and people will­ soon realize that he and the game that he brings and­ all the emotion on court make him the greatest player­ off all times.. Congradulation to fedex

    From svezor030, on Thu 11 Jun 7:43PM

  3. "robertxxx111"is actually­­ "RC_Alcock"(another username,he has­­ plenty)That guy is the best loser in this forum of all­­ times.He's scottish and hates the english.

    From Jeremy, on Mon 8 Jun 1:33PM

  4. He only needs one username "Loser"......

    From robert f, on Mon 8 Jun 11:25AM

  5. "robertxxx111"is actually­ "RC_Alcock"(another username,he has­ plenty)That guy is the best loser in this forum of all­ times.He's scottish and hates the english.

    From Jeremy, on Mon 8 Jun 11:23AM

  6. @ iwanbuitenzorg - do you even understand the concept­ of sporting competition? You have to beat your­ opponent, whoever it is. If Nadal, Djokovic, Murray are­ not good enough to get in the final, that is not­ Federer's problem.

    From Jean-Marc, on Mon 8 Jun 11:22AM

  7. You "anti FED",It's hard to face the­ truth,it hurts,doesn't it??????LOL ROGER JUST SHUT­ UP YOUR SILLY MOUTHS THE BEST WAY HE COULD...Roger is­ the­ BESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST:-DDDDDDDDDDDD

    From Jeremy, on Mon 8 Jun 11:22AM

  8. iwanbuitenzorg are you just plain dumb? federer­ schooled nadals @#$% at the masters, on clay only a­ month previous, and in straight sets......and­ soderling(who federer destroyed) made him look average­ at RG.

    Showed that while nadal is all about power and­ crazy spin off the largest raquet head legal, federer­ is about playing smart, tactical, and with­ beauty.......or the "complete game of­ tennis".

    In the end and especially now the­ pressure is off, rogers confidence will return again­ and it will be back to nadal only beating him on­ clay(zzz).......roger is just undeniably the best­ player in the world, nadal while good, has to rely on­ power and physicality to win, and a little luck(never­ seen so many balls clip the lines as at wimbledon 2008­ for nadal).....and its finally looking like its going­ to give him knee problems, at the age only 22(nearly­ 23).

    Take the boring clay court results off their head­ to heads and its a different picture in terms of­ results.

    Nuff said.

    From robert f, on Mon 8 Jun 11:22AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If against Nadal in final, he never win Roland Garros.­ He is still arrogant is posibble more Grand Slam to­ win. So long Nadal against him in final no way or­ Murray, Djokovic....

    From iwanbuitenzorg, on Mon 8 Jun 10:53AM

  10. east or west fed is best

    From tilak, on Mon 8 Jun 9:52AM

  11. Hey robertxxx111 ... You are a DISGRACE­­ TO THE­ TENNIS WORLD AND THE WHOLE OF SPORTS .. because­ everybody feels reading your "comment" that­ you are jellaous of RF ... Shouting with anger because­ you never could be so good sportman as Roger. Maybe you­ are crying in secret and are furious that you never be­ able to do the same as RF. You can't do anything­ to get a great result without hearth .. And you know­ this ... and Roger has everything what a human need to­ get his target ...
    CONGRATULATION ROGER ... I belived­ in you all the past one year when you were a little­ down and I was sure you are able to play with good­ result again just have to belive in yourself. ­ Don't take care such malicious opinions as­ "robertxxx111" ......... SMILE AND CRY...­ THAT'S THE REAL LIFE..)))))))))))))
    I have to tell­ that I like Nadal, Murry, del Potro, Söderling, Hewith,­ etc ... all the tennis players because they give us­ nice hours .... and we are thankful for getting­ pleasant time to watch their play.....)))))))))))

    From Erika, on Mon 8 Jun 9:44AM

  12. Hey robertxxx111 ... You are a DISGRACE­­ TO THE­ TENNIS WORLD AND THE WHOLE OF SPORTS .. because­ everybody feels reading your "comment" that­ you are jellaous of RF ... Shouting with anger because­ you never could be so good sportman as Roger. Maybe you­ are crying in secret and are furious that you never be­ able to do the same as RF. You can't do anything­ to get a great result without hearth .. And you know­ this ... and Roger has everything what a human need to­ get his target ...
    CONGRATULATION ROGER ... I belived­ in you all the past one year when you were a little­ down and I was sure you are able to play with good­ result again just have to belive in yourself. ­ Don't take care such malicious opinions as­ "robertxxx111" ......... SMILE AND CRY...­ THAT'S THE REAL LIFE..)))))))))))))
    I have to tell­ that I like Nadal, Murry, del Potro, Söderling, Hewith,­ etc ... all the tennis players because they give us­ nice hours .... and we are thankful for getting­ pleasant time to watch their play.....)))))))))))

    From Erika, on Mon 8 Jun 9:41AM

  13. robertxxx111... are you a spastic?

    From billozero, on Mon 8 Jun 9:04AM

  14. post 8, you are a bum. no feelings no heart. have you­ never cried in your life out
    of emotion? you are just a­ piece of jealous @#$%. roger is great, his emotions­ are
    great.. hes complete human.. as for you... god­ nkows best......

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 8 Jun 8:41AM

  15. YEAH ROGER, GIVE THE GAME YOUR BEST SHOT. YOU ARE THE­ GREATEST AND A UNIQUE PLAYER
    JUST LIKE PETE WAS IN HIS­ DAYS... GO..GO..GO..ON AND ENJOY THE GAME AND MAKE­ US
    HAPPY IN THE PROCESS

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 8 Jun 8:38AM

  16. YEAH ROGER, GIVE THE GAME YOUR BEST SHOT. YOU ARE THE­ GREATEST AND A UNIQUE PLAYER
    JUST LIKE PETE WAS IN HIS­ DAYS... GO..GO..GO..ON AND ENJOY THE GAME AND MAKE­ US
    HAPPY IN THE PROCESS

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 8 Jun 8:35AM

  17. and we want to enjoy your game as long as it's­ possible.When you are on the court it's pure­ plesure to watch you:) Be healthy and god­ luck-that's all you need!

    From suzichkaa, on Mon 8 Jun 8:34AM

  18. The only motivation left for Federer will be to beat­ Nadal in another grand slam final and be crowned number­ 1 again. It may well be for a short while, but thats­ the only motivation i see. Go for it Roger. You're­ simply the best....

    From Melony A, on Mon 8 Jun 8:05AM

  19. Go Federer , really happy for u , u deserve more than­ that , God pless u and u r wife and u r baby , enjoy u­ r live .

    From mukh, on Mon 8 Jun 7:56AM

  20. a VERY POSITIVE AND AMAZING ATTITUDE rOG. CHEERS TO­ THAT. aGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! GO ON PLAYING.. WE­ LOVE TO SEE YOU IN THE COURT...

    From russylle, on Mon 8 Jun 6:59AM
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