To thoroughly enjoy the accomplishment of the winners, a look back through the draw not only enhances the meaning of the trophy but also offers a look at all the accomplishments and disappointments that made the tournament such an emotional and sporting success. In the end, an athlete’s ability to put it out there, everything on the line, and perform at the highest level is a quality we all admire.

A look back at each draw will tell us who may have exceeded their expectations and may also tell the fans who might have been most disappointed. Those are the memories and emotional experiences that will drive these players through Wimbledon, our next Grand Slam.

Men’s Draw

Roger Federer - Winner of French Open 2009 Men's Title

The most compelling moment in the tournament may well have been the brief emotional response by the game’s greatest player. When Roger Federer fell to his knees and released the pent-up emotion that marked his two-week march through the field, it said volumes about the demands of a Grand Slam.

While the terre battue has proven to be the most elusive surface for the 14-time Grand Slam winner, this championship attests to Roger’s determination, work ethic and stamina. When this regal tennis competitor sets his mind to the task, he has the unique ability to convert hours of training into titles and dollars.

Unquestionably Roger Federer was the star of the Men’s 2009 French Open. Many other players provided exhilarating thrills while playing to a higher level than might have been expected. The success of the many French entrants kept the local crowds turning the turnstiles and providing excited roars from all corners of Stade Roland Garros. While Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s tournament ended abruptly at the hands of Juan Martin Del Porto, Gael Monfils established himself as player to be reckoned with. His semifinal straight set loss to the eventual Champion did not overshadow his thrilling and popular win over 6th seed Andy Roddick.

However, the tournament’s most unexpected performer was tournament runner-up Robin Soderling. Sweden’s hard-hitting 23rd seed, surprised everyone with his dominance of four-time French Champion Rafa Nadal.

That match threw the field into a state of frenzy and is the only singles match Nadal has lost at Roland Garros. His follow-up win over Nikolay Davydenko and thrilling five set comeback victory in which over a tough Fernando Gonzalez padded his resume. Trailing 1-4 in the fifth, Soderling showed his grit by rattling off the last five games against the fierce Gonzalez.

Women’s Draw

Svetlana Kuznetsova Won Women's Title at French Open 2009

There can be no dispute that Coupe Suzanne Lenglen winner Svetlana Kuznetsova was the best clay court player at the 2009 French Open. Not only did she outplay all comers, but also she bested number two seed Serena Williams and number one seed Dinara Safina along the way. Svetlana displayed the disciplined game plan and controlled execution of power backhands and forehands that won her the title. Despite a mediocre serve, Svetlana played within herself and in the moment. She played to her strength and successfully directed her play at her opponent’s weaknesses. For Svetlana, it was a heroic return to the Grand Slam winner’s circle.

There were many outstanding performers in this year’s draw and, of course, just as many unsettling performances. Despite reaching the finals, no player is more disappointed than Runner-up Dinara Safina, who marched through the field en route to the finals. Neatly overcoming quarterfinalist Victoria Azarenka in three sets and semifinalist Dominika Cibulkova in two sets, Dinara seemed poised to capture her first Grand Slam. Once again, her tentative play in a finals marred the way.

Fifth seed Jelena Jankovic had things going her way until she ran into a determined Sorana Cirstea. The unseeded Romanian put Jelena on the sidelines with a surprising three set win. The final set was 9-7.

Perhaps the most gratifying performance was turned in by Australian Samantha Stosur, who seems to have regained her form after an extended medical leave from the tour. The 30th seed knocked off 4th seed Elena Dementieva, France’s Virginia Razzano and the testy Cirstea before succumbing in three tense sets to the Suzanne Lenglen winner. Stosur will bemoan her inability to convert opportunities but performed well and will certainly be a player to watch at Wimbledon.

Maria Sharapova marked her return to the tour with a solid performance that should inspire her for England. Despite being blown out in the quarters by the diminutive Cibulkova, Sharapova etched three victories. If her legs get in tournament shape, Maria Sharapova will be a force at Wimbledon.

Men’s Doubles

Lukas Dlouhy & Leander Paes Won Doubles Title

The Draw held form for most of this event. The top seed, Nestor and Zimonjic, the three seed, Dlouhy-Paes, the two seed Bryan-Bryan all reached the semifinals. Only fourth seeded Bhupathi-Knowles faltered, losing in the second round to Acasuso and Gonzalez.

Seventh seeded Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman were the event’s over-achievers topping Bryan and Bryan in a thrilling three set semifinal, 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. This may well have been the match of the event and was the best-ever Grand Slam performance by either winner.

For Americans Bryan and Bryan, it was another bitter loss and one that continues their slide from the top ranking to which they have become accustomed.

The Men’s Doubles Champions, Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes played like champions, overcoming the top seed 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in the semis before turning back Moodie and Norman in the three set (3-6, 6-3, 6-2) finals.

The defeat of India’s Bhupathi and Bahamian Knowles by Acususo and Gonzalez (7-5, 4-6, 7-5) in round two was another fierce match. The upset will serve to get the four seed back in form for Wimbledon.

Women’s Doubles

Garrigues & Pascual Won Women's Doubles Title

Despite the ease with which Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual dominated the finals (6-1, 6-1) the Women’s Doubles Tournament provided high-level competition, plenty of thrills and loads of upsets.

The top half of the draw featured top seeded Black and Huber who walked to the quarters with ease. Their match (7-5, 5-7, 6-2) with third seeded Garrigues and Pascual was the match of the tournament. With everything at stake, these experienced doubles teams held nothing back. Virtually every point in the two hour forty-five minute battle was contested. Play was filled with sharp volleys, crisp serving and in your face net play.

The lower half of the draw was filled with upsets. Second seed Peschke-Raymond lost in the second round where fourth seed Stosur-Stubbs also failed. Upstarts Azarenka and Vesnina overcame Hsieh-Peng in the semis (6-3, 7-5) to claim a berth in the finals. Azarenka may have been suffering from her singles defeat and never really got into the final match. However, the hard-hitting right-hander is a serious doubles player and may well advance on the Wimbledon grass.

Azarenka-Vesnina’s final effort was the most disappointing of the event, but their play achieving the finals was the most unexpected.

Mixed Doubles

In 2009 at Roland Garros, only the Mixed Doubles winner was the number one seed. Hats off to hard core American doubles performers Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan who overcame surprising eight seed Vania King and Marcelo Melo in a tight 5-7, 7-6 ((5), 1-0 (7) thriller.

King and Melo get kudos for over-achieving while the major disappointments were registered by India’s doubles specialists Mirza and Bhupathi who were turned away in their first round match. The experienced doubles team had trouble with the red clay and could not get their game together against Ram and Dechy.

For the Champions, it was another steady title and leads followers to believe they play as well as it takes to win. What a great two weeks in Paris. See you at Wimbledon!

The Men’s Draw

The Men’s Draw for Roland Garros has some intriguing matchups. With four consecutive French Open titles, Spaniard Rafael Nadal is the top seed. If number 8 seed Fernando Verdasco can toe the line, the two fierce competitors will meet in the quarters. A replay of the five set Melbourne Marathon would be a tournament organizer’s dream-come-true.

Andy Murray is seeded third but will host a tough semi-final challenge from either Nadal or Verdasco. Murray will most likely meet home-standing Gilles Simon in the quarters while Simon will first have to dispose of Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.

Second-seeded Roger Federer tops the lower half of the draw. Fresh off his Madrid clay court championship, Switzerland’s star will have to work to get past third round opponent James Blake of the USA.

A win over Blake could pair Federer with another American, sixth seeded Andy Roddick in the quarters. The hard playing Roddick has not fared well in Paris and will have his hands full with France’s own Gael Monfils before reaching the quarters.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who gave Nadal a match to remember in Madrid, has peaked for Roland Garros. Seeded fourth, Djokovic will most likely square away with Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarters, but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France stands in the way. The top half of the lower draw is an upset-waiting-to happen.

One Handicapper’s View

A great draw! Not Nadal’s favorite. We like Verdasco to do the unthinkable and turn Nadal away from his fifth consecutive French Open title. There is no love lost between these two and this time Verdasco gets it done.

It is almost too easy to say that Murray will beat himself yet again, but he will. We like Fernando Gonzalez of Chile to do something surprising, but Czech Radek Stepanek is well suited for this event.

In the lower draw, Federer will fall, if not to Blake or Roddick, certainly to Djokovic. Paris continues to turn Roger away.

Novak Djokovic gets past Tsonga and moves on to the finals before winning the title. The big Serb’s time has come!

The Women’s Draw

Top seed Dinara Safina should emerge to meet popular 8th seed and former champion Ana Ivanovic in the quarters. Spain’s Suarez-Navarro will test Safina in round three.

Venus Williams will be noble but will be pressured in the quarters by Russian Vera Zvonareva, who will have to overcome teammate Nadia Petrova who has to deal with yet another great champion and teammate Maria Sharapova.

Serena Williams will have to work, but she should reach the quarters where Svetliana Kuznetsova will be waiting. In the upper half of the lower draw fifth seed Jelena Jakovic is getting a lot of media play. However, fourth- seeded Elena Demetieva is the better player and may go the distance.

One Handicapper’s View

Safina will not live up to her billing. In fact, if she gets to the quarters, she will fall to Ivanovic who will meet either Venus or Zvonareva in the semis. Either way, Dinara will not make finals. If Ivanovic serves, she gets to finals.

We see Serena reaching semis but falling to fourth-seeded and eventual champion Elena Dementieva who blows past Jankovic, Williams and Ivanovic to capture her first Grand Slam.

Elena is fit, tough, ready for the big stage and will be a great champion.