Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Federer Wins Elusive French Title

Federer Wins Elusive French Title

Monday 8th June, 2009

PARIS (AP) - beat Robin Soderling, tied and A list of French won the at last. Undeterred by an on-court intruder, Federer beat surprise finalist Soderling 6- Open Men's 1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 Sunday to complete a career and win his 14th major title, matching Sampras’ record. Champions On his fourth try at Roland Garros, 2009 - Roger Federer, 2008 - Federer became the sixth man to win all , 2007 - Rafael Nadal, four Grand Slam championships. 2006 - Rafael Nadal, 2005 - Rafael "Now the question is: Am I the greatest Nadal, 2004 - Gaston Gaudio, of all time?" Federer said. "W e don’t know, 2003 - , 2002 - but I definitely have many things going for Albert Cost a, 2001 - Gust avo me because I’ve finally won all four Grand Kuerten, 2000 - Gust avo Kuerten, Slams, and I’m p articularly happy reaching 1999 - , 1998 - Carlos Pete’s 14." Moya, 1997 - Gust avo Kuerten, When the stylish Swiss hit a service 1996 - Y evgeny Kafelnikov, 1995 - winner on championship point, he fell on , 1994 - Sergi his knees to the clay that had vexed him for Bruguera, 1993 - , so long, screamed and briefly buried his 1992 - , 1991 - Jim face in his hands. He was teary by the time Courier, 1990 - Andres Gomez, he met Soderling at the net, and fans gave 1989 - Michael , 1988 - Mat s Federer a st anding ovation as he raised his W ilander , 1987 - , 1986 arms in triumph. - Ivan Lendl, 1985 - Mat s W ilander , "It’s maybe my greatest victory, or cer - 1984 - Ivan Lendl, 1983 - Y annick tainly the one that removes the most pres - Noah, 1982 - Mat s W ilander , 1981 sure of f my shoulders," Federer said. "I - Bjorn Borg, 1980 - Bjorn Borg, think that now and until the end of my 1979 - Bjorn Borg, 1978 - Bjorn Borg, career, I can really play with my mind at 1977 - , 1976 - peace and no longer hear that I’ve never , 1975 - Bjorn Borg, won Roland Garros." 1974 - Bjorn Borg, 1973 - Ilie Tears ran down Federer’s cheeks as Nastase, 1972 - Andres Gimeno, the Swiss national anthem played. 1971 - Jan Kodes, 1970 - Jan Kodes, 1969 - , 1968 - Ken Switzerland's Roger Federer kisses his trophy after defeating Rosewall, 1967 - , 's Robin Soderling in their men's singles final match of the 1966 - , 1965 - Fred French Open tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, S tolle, 1964 - Manolo Sant ana, 1963 - Roy Emerson, 1962 - Rod Sunday June 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Laver, 1961 - Manolo Sant ana, Federer wins then carried out. "I kind of was relieved, because he was 1960 - , 1959 - There was going to be the hardest one to beat," Nicola Pietrangeli, 1958 - Mervyn silence from the Federer said. Rose, 1957 - , 1956 stunned crowd, then For Federer, a matchup against the - , 1955 - Tony T rabert, a chant of "Ro-ger! 23rd-seeded Soderling was much more 1954 - Tony T rabert, 1953 - Ken Ro-ger!" when the inviting. The Swede had never previously Rosewall, 1952 - Jaroslav Drobny, episode ended. been beyond the third round at a Grand 1951 - Jaroslav Drobny, 1950 - Budge elusive French title Federer adjusted his Slam tournament, and he fell to 0-10 Patty, 1949 - , 1948 - headband, Soderling against Federer. Frank Parker, 1947 - Joszef Asboth, gave him a thumbs- "Yesterday, me and my coach were jok- 1946 - , 1940-45 - No Completes career Grand Slam up sign and play ing," Soderling told Federer during the tro - tournament, World War II, 1939 - Don resumed. phy ceremony. "You’ve beaten me nine McNeill, 1938 - , 1937 strokes to both corners and an occasional Soderling’s strokes steadied, and he times in a row, and we were joking nobody - , 1936 - Gott fried von "Roger, really , congrat s to you," drop shot. pushed the second set to 6-all. But can beat me 10 times in a row. But we were Cramm, 1935 - , 1934 - Soderling said. "You really gave me a les - Federer’s progress to the title was Federer played a brilliant tiebreaker, hitting wrong." Gott fried von Cramm, 1933 - Jack son in how to play tennis today. And to me briefly delayed in the second set. T h e aces on all four of his service point s, and Despite Nadal’s surprising dep arture, Crawford, 1932 - , you’re the greatest player in history. So you match was between points when a specta- Soderling could only smile ruefully. Federer’s p ath to the title wasn’t easy. He 1931 - , 1930 - Henri really deserved to win this title." tor waving a flag climbed through the pho - Federer broke again to st art the third rallied from a two-set deficit in the fourth Cochet, 1929 - Rene , The supportive crowd included Andre tographer’s pit and onto set and kept that lead the rest of the way. round to beat , and survived 1928 - Henri Cochet, 1927 - Rene Agassi, the most recent man to complete a Federer’s side of the He never lost , and despite the difi- f another five-setter against Juan Martin del Lacoste, 1926 - Henri Cochet, career Grand Slam when he won at Roland court. cult conditions, he had more winners than Potro in the semifinals. 1925 - Rene Lacoste. Garros 10 years ago. Agassi presented Federer unforced errors - 41 to 24. "I’ve had a tough draw," Federer said. NOTE: Prior to 1925, the French Federer with the trophy. backed away "It’s always tough to play Roger," "Of course, it’s not Nadal on the other side Open was restricted to French players. "You’re the last man to win all four toward the Soderling said. "He really played well of the net, but I beat him a couple of weeks Grand Slams," Federer said. "Now I can backstop, but relate to what it really feels like. ... It feels today. I had a few small chances in the ago on clay (in Madrid), so I really feel like the fan caught up second set, but overall he played too well I really deserve it." good to be for once on the podium as the with him and tried Australia face SL winner. It’s a magical moment." for me today." Federer won his 14th Grand Slam to put a hat on Federer owed Soderling a thank-you championship at age 27. Sampras, who Playing in cool, windy weather and Federer’s . occasional rain, Federer raced to a quick for easing his p ath by up setting four-time never reached a French Open final, was 31 in do-or-die battle Security personnel defending champion Rafael Nadal in the when he won his last major title. Federer Ricky Ponting’s Australia must perform or lead, sweeping the first four games. seemed slow to react Soderling appeared nervous at the st art of fourth round last Sunday. Nadal beat will try for No. 15 beginning in two weeks at face an embarrassing early exit from the before chasing the man Federer at Roland Garros the past four W imbledon, which he has won five times. World Twenty20 when they take on Sri Lanka his first Grand Slam final, and Federer kept to the other side of the him scrambling with penetrating ground - years, including three consecutive times in He has also won the U.S. Open the on Monday. court, and he was t ackled, the final. past five years, and he has three Australian The Australians, stunned by a seven- defeat at the hands of the W est Indies on Saturday following ’s explo - LONDON (AP) - South Africa made a blister - 211-5 - it s highest T wenty20 sive 88 of f 50 balls, cannot af ford another ing st art to its Twenty20 World Cup cam- score and the fif th best in the loss. paign, beating Scotland by 130 runs on short history of the format. Even if they emerge victorious, Ponting’s Sunday to qualify for the Super 8 st age. Jacques Kallis scored 48, S.Africa beat Scotland men are not assured of advancing to the A.B. de Villiers hit 79 of f 34 while made 38 Super Eights because a Sri Lankan win over balls, smashing six sixes and five and Albie Morkel 24 in 11 balls. the West Indies on W ednesday will throw up boundaries to help Scotland never looked like by 130 runs a three-way tie to be decided by net run-rate. South chasing it down, slumping to 13-4 The loss to the W est Indies with 4.1 Africa before being bowled out for 81 in Coetzer (42) and (15) reaching Drummond for 24 in the 18th over. overs to sp are could spell further disaster for post the 16th over with only Kyle double figures. De V illiers reached his 50 from 25 balls. Australia, who must not only beat Sri Lanka, Morkel took 2-15, while of fspinners In the final over , Coetzer produced a div - but do so by a big margin to improve their Johan Botha and ing catch to remove Mark Boucher for 2, but net run-rate. each took 2-17 and Dale Steyn 2-21. De V illiers responded with two successive "It all lies ahead of us," Ponting said South Africa plays New Zealand at sixes. ahead of the group C match at Trent Bridge. Lord’s on T uesday. Scotland has been elimi - Scotland made a disastrous start to its " We know exactly what we have to do nated from the tournament. reply . and if we are good enough, we get it done." The defeat against the West Indies was Scotland capt ain Gavin Hamilton won Watson was bowled by Steyn for 4 and Australia’s fourth T wenty20 loss in a row. the toss, but his decision to field looked rash Hamilton was caught by J.P. Duminy of f Australia suf fered a shock defeat by as Kallis hit five fours in a single over . W ayne Parnell for 5 inside two overs. Zimbabwe in the inaugural World Twenty20 The Scots didn’t help themselves with South Africa then took two wicket s in a in South Africa in 2007, but still managed to some erratic fielding. Kallis was dropped on many balls. Navdeep Poonia was run out for reach the semi-finals where they lost to 43 when he chipped a ball from Glenn 0 and Steyn then bowled Colin Smith. eventual champions India. Rogers to Hamilton, who initially took the Neil McCallum made 8 before he was Sri Lanka will be charged up for their first bowled by Botha, international match since the horrific terror who then trapped att ack on their team bus in the Pakist ani city Jan Stander lbw for of Lahore in March while on their way to 2. resume a Test match. At 41-6, Seven Sri Lankan cricketers and an Scotland was in dan - assist ant coach were injured in the att ack, ger of posting a which lef t eight Pakist anis dead. lower tot al than the Kumar Sangakkara, leading Sri Lanka for Twenty20 interna - the first time af ter Mahela Jayawardene quit tional record of 67 the job af ter the Pakist an tour, said the team scored by Kenya looked forward to the game against Australia. against Ireland last "The pressure will be on them, but we are not t aking victory for granted," said year. Sangakkara. "They will come hard at us and But Coetzer hit we have to be ready to st and t all. 42 before he was " W e know a side must win at least one caught and bowled game to st ay in the race. W e have just got to by Van der Meuwe, take our chances." catch but then lost control of the ball as he who then bowled Majid Haq with his next Sangakkara wanted his team to qualify hit the ground. ball. for the semi-finals af ter being stuck in the Haq briefly halted the South African Gordon Drummond was bowled by Super Eights st age in 2007. charge when he removed both openers in Morkel for 1 and the victory was completed " W e have a great mix in both and the sp ace of three balls in the 10th over. when Morkel bowled Callum MacLeod. , but at the end of the day it all Kallis dragged a on to his depends on executing your plans well," he stumps to make it 87-1. Smith was out Brief Scores: said. attempting to sweep, the ball looped into the South Africa 211/5 (20) "I am not sure T wenty20 is only a slog. air and being easily caught by wicketkeeper A.B. de Villiers 79*, J. Kallis 48 One still needs to plan an innings to ensure Colin Smith. Scotland 81 all out (15.4) you get a good tot al on the board." Herschelle Gibbs was for 16 off K. Coetzer 42, A. Morkel 2-15 Ryan Wat son, making it 125-3 in the 15th over, but De V illiers and Morkel reignited the innings with a 50-run p artnership from only South Africa's AB de Villiers hits a six during the Group D Twenty20 World Cup cricket 19 balls. match between South Africa and Scotland at The Oval cricket ground in London, Sunday The pair hit 22 from the 17th over before June 7, 2009. (AP) Morkel was caught by Coetzer off Gordon

Published by Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Monday 8th June, 2009

Top View