Robin Soderling

Wow! Two of the most emotionally grueling and physically demanding comebacks in French Open Tennis history played out to overflow crowds in the 2009 semifinals at Roland Garros. The charged gallery put its tennis mood on early and wore it passionately through two 3 hour 30 minute matches.

First, Sweden’s Nadal conqueror, Robin Soderling, bested Chile’s Fernando Gonzales in a contentious 5 set nail-biter, 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4. Soderling trailed 1-4 in the fifth set before mounting a stirring comeback and running the table on the game drop-shotter.

When the match began, it seemed that the 12th seeded Gonzalez would not be able to answer the hard serving, power driving 23rd seed. Trailing two sets to none, the savvy Chilean dipped deep into his bag of drop shots and gamesmanship to turn the tide and gain the momentum after four sets.

Soderling’s successful run in Paris has been based upon his ability to serve and volley with abandon. The same strategy that kept Rafa Nadal 10 feet behind the baseline looked like a sure winner after two sets. Gonzalez showed his teeth in the second set when at 4-4 and love-40, he rattled off three winners en route to a key hold to go up 5-4. The Chilean court master then had a set point before succumbing.

Although broken at 5-5, the Chilean had learned something as he relentlessly hit the ball low to Soderling’s backhand. Throughout the match, Gonzalez kept working the Swede’s backhand.

The passionate Chilean had several confrontations with the chair umpire and linespersons. Most notable was a fourth set dispute over a line call at 4-4. Gonzalez marked his disgust by erasing the ball mark with his backside and then held serve and broke at 6-5 to grab the set.

After Gonzalez won sets three and four, he seemed to have the match under control. When he broke in the fourth game of the final set and then held to go up 4-1, the match outcome seemed a mere formality. But, Soderling held to close to 2-4 and then broke to get the match back on serve.

Gonzales continued to question line calls as the crowd swung towards Soderling. The Swede did what he does best and bullied his way past the Chilean, finally sealing the match with a ferocious backhand drive down the line.

The win marks the first time a Swede has reached the finals since his coach, Magnus Norman, accomplished the feat in 2000. Soderling has now won nine consecutive matches on clay and looks to become the first Swede since Mats Wilander to win at Roland Garros.

Federer Defeated Del Porto to Reach The Finals Of French Open 2009

No stranger to championship caliber competition, Switzerland’s Roger Federer rode a wave of French support to turn the tide on Argentina’s Juan Martin del Porto and pull out a tight 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 quality semifinal win. The crowd loudly proclaimed Rogere! Rogere! with each winning shot.

A win by Federer will make him just the sixth man in tennis history to have won all four major titles and will tie him with Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slam titles at 14. With the semifinal win, Federer has now tied Ivan Lendl for the all-time Grand Slam record for appearances in the finals at 19.

Remarkably, this semifinal appearance marked Federer’s 20th consecutive semifinal and was his 200th Grand Slam match.

The revered Swiss star needed every bit of his composure and Grand Slam experience to withstand another steady barrage by another up and coming star. The 20-year old 6 foot 7 inch 5th seed got off the starting blocks quickly as he blasted first serve after first serve at Federer and followed up with piercing forehands.

When Del Porto was on, he was dominating. He eased through sets one and three, breaking Federer twice in the third set and seemed headed to the finals.

But, just when Federer looks most vulnerable, he finds a way to turn the momentum. He broke Del Porto early in the fourth set and Juan martin seemed to let down his intensity. In earlier sets, his serving velocity exceeded 130 mph.

With Nadal’s loss to finalist Robin Soderling, Federer has worn the pressure of tournament and fan favorite, a role usually reserved for four-time French Champion Rafa. Despite his stellar play, Roger had lost more sets than any other tournament semifinalist.

Federer’s comebacks are becoming regular. He seems to show early match jitters, then steadies the play and finally begins to dominate. This was the case against both Tommy Haas and Juan Martin. Del Porto was unable to sustain his go for broke style. When he needed big shots in the final set, Federer had the answers. Federer’s win was cause for celebration in Paris where the Swiss star appears to have been adopted.

The King

As storied as the history of Roland Garros is, the French Open Champions carry the tournament’s colors well. French Open Champions are special. They must overcome lengthy, gut-wrenching points, matches that last inordinate amounts of time and survive challenges from the best players on the planet. Yes, The French Open champions are special, just like the red courts of Roland Garros.

Since the Roland Garros Championships entered the Open era, the undisputed king of the tournament has been the stoic Swedish star and consummate tennis competitor, Bjorn Borg. Current French Open Champion, Spanish superstar, Rafael Nadal, will be seeking his sixth consecutive title at Roland Garros Stadium this month, but for many, the hearts of Paris will always belong to Sweden’s six-time winner.

In Borg’s shortened career, he won 61 ATP singles titles and 11 Grand Slam crowns. The powerful Swede won six Coupe des Mousquetaires and five Wimbledon crowns. Only Switzerland’s Roger Federer has won as many times on the English grass.

Perhaps, it was Borg’s ability to win on the slow, red clay in Paris and then on the very fast grass of England that endeared him to tennis fans around the globe. Perhaps, it was the Swede’s ability to overcome odds and hold off American bad boys John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors that elevated his popularity with international fans. Or, perhaps he was seen as one of the games great talents and the defender of the game’s ageless etiquette.

Unlike the feisty McEnroe and the contentious Conners, Borg played hard, played well and played with dignity throughout his career. At a time when the sportsmanship of the game was being redefined, Borg was a beacon of the traditional value of the game of tennis. Borg won his first French Open at age 18 in 1974. Borg won his sixth title in 1981 before his career was cut short in 1982.

Borg remains one of the few players who had the power game to win on fast surfaces and the racket skills to win on clay. Now, the game is fortunate to have another player with the same skills.

In 2009, Rafael Nadal pursues his sixth title. While the tall, muscular Spaniard’s style is different than Borg’s, Nadal has an uncanny ability to grind out wins on the red clay. With a dynamic clay court record, the 2009 French Open is Nadal’s to lose.

The Queen

Hail to The Queen! American Chris Evert captured the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen seven times and is still recognized as the greatest clay court tennis player of all time. Evert won an amazing 18 Grand Slam championships and, like Borg, did much to boost the game that she loved and the game that loved her.

Evert’s cool, calm and poised demeanor endeared her to fans around the world. The trim American won hearts and titles twice in Melbourne, 3 times at Wimbledon and 6 times at the U.S. Open. Her 125 consecutive clay court triumphs over six years from 1973 until 1979 is a record that will stand forever.

In Paris, Steffi Graf won six championships and has been Evert’s only serious challenger. As testimony to her versatility and brilliance, Evert’s six U.S. Open titles set another record.

Unbelievably, Evert finished as the world’s top ranked player seven times between 1974 and 1981. During her professional career, Evert amassed 1309 wins against 146 losses for a .900 winning percentage. Hail to the Queen of Paris, she stole our hearts and, along the way, helped raise women’s tennis.

The Prince

Michael Chang turned professional at aged 16 in 1988. His two handed backhand and durable play gained a reputation on a tour that was loaded with hard-serving and hard-hitting veterans. His 5’ 7” stature made the young American an unlikely tennis superstar.

Once settled on the tour, Chang set about making his mark. He splashed to the forefront on the red courts of Roland Garros in the 1989 French Open. His tenacious style and never-say-die attitude carried him to a stunning five set triumph over top seed Ivan Lendl in a grueling four hour 4th round match and another five set four and a half hour upset of number three seed Stefan Edberg in the finals.

At age 17 years, 3 months, Michael Chang is not only the youngest player to hoist the Coupe des Mousquetaires but he may very well reign as the Prionce of the French Open forever.

Inn his sixteen-year tennis career, Chang went on to achieve a world number two ranking and was ranked in the top ten for seven years. Michael won 34 singles titles and reached the finals in 24 other tournaments. Chang won 7 ATP championships. The 1989 French Open was his only Grand Slam championship. But, he reached the finals at the 1996 Australian Open the finals in Paris again in 1995 and the finals of the U.S. Open in 1996.

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the Prince of Roland Garros was his ability to represent the game itself. He championed the etiquette and integrity of the game and became a major influence on American tennis. Coincidentally, Chang’s 1989 French tile was the first by an American since Tony Trabert’s 1955 championship.

The Princess

French Open Princess, Monica Seles, joined the WTA in 1989, the same year Michael Chang won his French Open title. That same year, Seles reached the semis at Roland Garros and she was an instant teen sensation.

The next year at just 16 years 6 months, Seles swept through the tournament and raised her first Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. In fact, the Princess of Roland Garros would champion the red clay courts three successive times until 1992.

Between 1990 and 1993, Monica won 3 Australian championships, 3 French Opens and 2 U.S. Opnes. At age 21, her career was cut short when she was stabbed in the back by a spectator. Monica, the Princess of the French Open and the Queen of the Comeback, attempted to resurrect her career. Although never regaining her top form, Monica remained a top 10 player from 1995 until 2002.

In 1998, the Princess reached the finals at Paris. After the tragic stabbing, Monica needed two years of rehabilitation. The incident is one of the great tragedies of international sport. Monica’s reign as the Princess of Paris clay will most likely last an eternity.

First round action in the 2009 French Open will begin on May 24th and will conclude with the Men’s Finals on June 7th. With the top-ranked players in the world well into their seasons, the play will be intense, the prize money abundant and the crowds plentiful. This was not always the case. In fact, the French Open has evolved from rather modest beginnings to assume the role of Grand Slam spoiler for some of the game’s biggest names.

The home of the French Open is the Stade Roland Garros. Aptly named for the famed World War I fighter pilot, the stadium became home to the Open in 1928. The tournament’s stated name is the Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros. Over the years, The Court Philippe Chatrier center court has featured storied matches and legendary matchups.

It all began in 1891 when a national tennis tournament, the Championat de France, was first created. This event was limited to male players who were licensed to play in France. The first Women’s National Championship was held in 1897. The tournament remained a national event through 1924.

In 1912, tournament organizers made a decision that still characterizes the unique playing style of the French Open when they converted the grass court playing surface to the terre battue or red clay surface. The original surface was composed of crushed, red brick. Previously all French tennis and most tennis around the world was played on grass courts.

The Championat de France gained momentum as the quality of French tennis rose along with the stature of the national event. In 1925, the French Championships became an international event with players participating from outside the country. The event was alternately hosted on grass courts at the Racing Club de France and the Stade Francais.

French tennis stunned the world by upsetting the heavily favored American Davis Cup Team in 1927. Les Mosquetaires Rene Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brignon ventured across the water and returned with the country’s first Davis Cup Championship and much international acclaim.

When France accepted the invitation to defend and host the 1928 Davis Cup, the Stade de France agreed to provide three hectares of land for a new tennis stadium at Porte d’Auteuil. A provision that the new facility be named for the World War I pilot, Roland Garros, was attached to the land grant.

After World War II, the French Open was held at Wimbledon from 1945 through 1947. The tournament was then the third Grand Slam of the year.

In 1968, the French Championship became the first Grand Slam tournament to open for professional play. Ever since, the event has been dominated by professionals, but the French have sought ways to keep sportsmanship and national pride at the core of the tournament.

In 1981, new prizes were added to the championship. The Prix Orange is awarded to the player who is the most press-friendly and who demonstrates the truest sense of fair play. The Prix Citron designates the player with the strongest on-court character and personality, while the Prix Bourgeon is awarded to the most surprising player.

In 2006, another novel feature was added. The French Open commences on a Sunday with 12 singles matches all played on the three main courts. On the eve preceding the opening matches, exhibition matches for the benefit of designated charities are played. In March 2007, The French Open determined to award equal prize money for both singles draws.

The distinctive red clay courts provide a unique style of play for a Grand Slam event. Being a slower surface, where the ball typically bounces higher, points take longer and emphasize the player’s ability to hit effective groundstrokes and a willingness to retrieve shot after shot. Matches take longer and players either arrive at the French in top shape or soon go home.

Serve and volley specialists have not fared well on the Paris clay surface. Like the city itself, a win at the French takes heart as aces do not come easily and short rallies fall by the wayside. Some the game’s greatest stars have been unable to conquer the clay courts. Of late, sure-to-be tennis hall of famers Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, who have won more Grand Slam events than any other male players have been unable to master the red clay.

Legendary serve and volley specialists like Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and John McEnroe all failed to triumph in Paris. Lean and mean ground strokers Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander seemed to rally for the French.

The Men’s Championship is named the Coupe des Mouquetaires, whose 1927 Davis Cup upset put France on the world tennis scene. That triumph is equated to the American hockey victory over the Russians in the 1980 Olympic games.

The Women’s title is called the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, who won more mixed doubles championships than any other competitor and who won six singles championships from 1920 – 1926. Suzanne led French women’s tennis players onto the international scene. One of the main courts at Roland Garros is named in her honor.

After World War II, the Americans and the Australians dominated the tournament. Perhaps the most amazing triumph belongs to Australian Ken Rosewall who won the title in 1953 and then amazingly duplicated the win fifteen years later as a professional in 1968.

After 37 years of frustration, Yannick Noah captured the title for France in 1983. The much-celebrated win burned brightly throughout France and especially in Paris. This feat has not been duplicated since, although the 2009 home country’s team, led by Jo Wilfried Tsonga, looks to be the strongest it has been in years.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal will arrive at this year’s event as the number one seed and deservedly so. Rafael Nadal has become the man-to-beat on either grass or clay and, like Bjorn and Lenglen, has won four consecutive titles. Nadal’s game is well suited for clay and his personality is just feisty enough to intimidate lesser players.

Historically, Bjorn Borg is generally regarded to be the modern-day French Open marvel. Borg won 11 Grand Slam titles, five championships at Wimbledon and six at Roland Garros. In doing so, he displayed a unique ability to win on grass and on clay.

On the women’s side, American Chris Evert’s French Open accomplishments are still storybook. With her graceful game and calm on-court demeanor, Evert endeared herself to the Parisians. Evert won 125 consecutive clay court matches, a record that will most likely rein forever. Evert had the perfect temperament and strokes for clay, yet was able to win on grass as well.

The tournament’s youngest Men’s winner was American Michael Chang who was 17 years 3 months when he captured the title in 1989. The youngest women’s winner was Monica Seles who emblazoned her run and grunt style on Roland Garros annals at 16 years of age in 1990.