Yes, Roger Federer is the 2009 French Open Champion and no player on the planet has ever deserved it more. In an age where professional and amateur athletes bend rules, have temper tantrums, intimidate officials and have wild outbursts of gamesmanship Roger Federer ties on his sneakers and lets his game do the talking.

Roger Federer is a tennis champion’s champion!

His newest title is Federer’s first Coupe des Mousquetaires and makes the Switzerland’s graceful hero just the sixth player to win all four major championships. In Paris, Roger has been a perennial bridesmaid to four-time champion Rafa Nadal and other clay geniuses. But, bridesmaid no longer, Federer now shares the record for most Grand Slam Championships with American Pete Sampras. The way Roger is playing, he could well set the record at the 2009 Wimbledon Championship or at the U.S. Open.

In a tournament marked by the absence of form, the greatest player of the generation took on sturdy challenges and prevailed with consistent serving, the most deadly forehand in the game and with an abundance of personal fortitude. The 27-year old’s legions of fans began the celebration early on Sunday as “Rogere” never let the outcome be in doubt.

The Coupe des Mousquetaires was presented by American star Andre Agassi whose wife, Steffi Graf, did similar honors for the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen yesterday. For Federer, Agassi had lavish praise; “That’s the true test of a champion and it’s so fitting that he won here. He deserved it, earned it, he’s come across in a generation where he was the second greatest clay courter for five years and earlier this year took six weeks off to focus on his fitness and also put hundreds of practice hours on clay courts. He has improved on the surface. Adding a nifty drop shot that earned him dozens of points during the tournament and seems more confident sliding into his ground strokes.”

In the finals, Sweden’s Robin Soderling never mounted a challenge, losing 6-1, 7-6 (1), and 6-4. His previous record against Federer proved true to form. Federer had won all nine previous matchups and had only lost one set along the way. On Sunday, the moment was bigger than Soderling and he was unable to play to the level that just one week ago had led him past the tournament’s top seed, Nadal.

On the road to the finals, other high seeds like Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Fernando Verdasco and Andy Roddick succumbed. The Champion still had a rocky road to the finals going five sets against Tommy Hass, four sets against Jose Acasuso, five sets against hard-serving Juan Martin Del Porto and besting two locals heroes, Paul-Henri Mathieu (4) and crowd favorite Gaels Monfils.

The clouds emptied a steady drizzle during the match and Soderling seemed to suffer. His early effort was distracted by the crowd, the weather and his erstwhile opponent. Meanwhile, Federer picked holes in Soderling’s game that other players had been unable to find. The 6-1 first set took just 23 minutes before the handwriting was on the wall.

Both players held serve in the second set. The rain eased for the tiebreaker and the Champion seized the moment and the tournament by notching four aces, a piercing forehand winner and a spellbinding drop shot to notch the set 7-1. Midway through the third set, Federer had won an astounding 80% of his second serves.

Soderling had made his name in this event by serving hard and consistently and by pounding returns. Both qualities were missing on Sunday. He faulted more than in any previous match, his serves were lacking in velocity and kick and his returns were ineffective.

During the awards ceremony, Soderling graciously complimented the winner; “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.”

At 27, Federer is not finished. He met such success in his earlier years that fans tend to think he is past prime. Federer has revamped his game and has now won two consecutive clay tournaments to raise his total tour championships to 59.

Perhaps more meaningful is Federer’s sporting contribution to the preservation of the game. Great players make great shots look easy. Two weeks of competing against the greatest competition in the world on the courts at Roland Garros is enough to make younger men falter. They all did! When Nadal went down to Soderling, experts felt Federer might feel the pressure of being the tournament favorite. As he has done at every turn, Roger rose to the occasion, wore the favorite’s role well and beat back all challengers. Hail to a true Champion!

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.

Nadal has been so dominant and so overwhelming on clay that despite last weekend’s final match 4-6, 4-6 loss to Roger Federer, he has been installed as a shocking 4/11 bookmaker favorite. Nadal is in the unusual position of being a predominant favorite and a bad bet for the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris.

On paper, he has the credentials. On the court, he has the game. In front of the media, the muscular, 22 year old Spaniard has the answers, the confidence and the air of a champion. Rafael Nadal is clearly the best tennis player on the planet and on the red clay of Paris, he seems unbeatable.

With more than $24 million in career earnings, with more than $4 million 2009 earnings under his belt and with the last 4 French Open titles in his trophy case, Nadal will celebrate his 23rd June 3rd birthday during the May 24th – June 7th tournament. He would love to spoil the party by taking home the Coupe de Mousquetaires and the handsome check that goes alongside.

The feisty Spaniard is looking to capture leg two of this year’s Grand Slam after his impressive triumph in Melbourne. Even though the favorite lost in Madrid, he has impressed bookmakers and tennis experts with his 33 consecutive clay court wins and his 150 – 5 career record on clay. Nadal has not lost a match in four years at Roland Garros and as he prepares to pursue his fifth consecutive French Open title, the question is who will wrest the championship from him.

Roger Federer

Buoyed by his win in Madrid, Switzerland’s star seems more confident than in the past. Not that a winner of 13 Grand Slam tournaments needs a boost in confidence, but it is clear that Nadal’s success is wearing thin on the Swiss magician. Federer overcame tough opposition in reaching the finals at Melbourne and in the Australian heat put everything he had on the table in the finals. The loss seemed to take an emotional toll on the 11 year Grand Slam veteran.

Rather than pullback, Federer has worked hard on his game. He now boasts a heart-stopping drop shot that could well be the key to his success in Paris. The courts in Madrid were faster than the courts at Roland Garros, but clay is clay and a championship trophy deserves to be raised high.

With more than $46 million in career earnings and with $2 million banked this season, Federer knows what he has to do. All Grand Slam events are physically challenging and filled with distractions, but here is one player who has been there before. With one more Grand Slam championship, he will rise above Pete Sampras and claim the most Grand Slam Trophies of any player ever.

In addition to his 5 U.S. Open Championships, 5 Wimbledon Championships and 3 Australian Championships, Federer would like nothing more than to capture his first Trophy at Roland Garros. Roger’s resume also sports 5 Grand Slam Runnerup trophies.

Not bad for the bookmaker’s 13/2 second choice. Federer is ready and is playing and practicing to win. Second place is not good enough this time around.

Novak Djokovic

This year the bookmakers like the number three seed. Also at 13/2 the tall Serb has come a long way since Australia, where he received plenty of criticism for withdrawing during his fourth round match. Analysts have long questioned Djokovic’s will to win, but his skills and potential have long been admired.

With the 2008 Australian Open in hand, Djokovic has a Grand Slam title to his credit and since 2007 he has reached the semis or finals 6 times. His big serve and powerful ground strokes make the big guy a threat, but his foot speed and endurance have never allowed him past the semis at Roland Garros.

Since the fiasco in Melbourne, Djokovic appears to have re-focused his game. In Australia, he appeared out-of-shape, out-of-heart and out-of-gas. Since then, he has improved each week. His four-hour marathon against Nadal at last week’s Madrid Masters was memorable, but as in so many of Novak’s memorable matches, the Serb came up short.

Djokovic needs a break-through win to unlock his vast earning potential and expand his trophy case. While clay is not his best surface, his Madrid performance suggests he is peaking at the right time.

Since 2005, Djokovic has won more than $12 million and this year has banked more than $1.7. The two-week Grand Slam schedule has never played to Djokovic’s hand. Analysts feel he is a weak 13/2 bet.

Andy Murray

Andy Murray is a fast court player with the serve, ground strokes and foot speed for grass and hard court success. Ever since his Runnerup finish at the U.S. Open, the world has been waiting for Murray to put his awesome shot- making skills together and emerge from the shadows of Nadal and Federer.

Bookmakers think he has a 10/1 chance to succeed. Avid tennis followers do not like his chances. Like his countrymen, tennis experts have been disappointed by Murray too many times and for too long.

The skills are there, the heart is there too, but there seems a self-destruct mode surrounding the Scotsman. Obscure points, momentary breakdowns and deep sulks always seem to get in the way with this guy. Sometimes Murray appears to be looking for a way not to win. Or, perhaps it is that Murray seems like he is looking for a way to pin his inability to win on some quirk of bad luck.

Over two weeks of Grand Slam competition, success has very little to do with luck. Grand Slam championships require two weeks of concentrated tennis. Winners get past the distractions, past the crowds, past the media coverage and on to the court with their best game in tact.

Murray has a 186 – 70 career won-lost record and a 31 – 5 year-to-date record. He is that good, he is that talented. With $7miilion in career earnings and with $1.7 million cashed in this year, 22 year-old Murray simply needs to get the game between his ears in line.

Fernando Verdasco

Ole! Can Fernando break through? He won the hearts at Melbourne, he is the world’s most improved player and he is the Horatio Alger of the 2009 season, but can he break through? Is clay his surface? Is Fernando a hard court specialist?

Bookmakers like him at 25/1, the gals love him on or off the court and the other players are now very aware of Fernando’s appeal and presence. 2009 seems like a hard earned dream for the Spaniard. Tennis enthusiasts would love to see a re-match of the stirring five-set Nadal-Verdasco matchup in Melbourne.

There is clearly no love lost between those two countrymen. Fernando has never escaped past the fourth round at Roland Garros, but he has never been in as good shape and played with such intensity as he has this season.

With $4 million in career earnings, Fernando is the bookmaker’s fifth seed and 8th ranked tour player. He is 23 – 8 this year, but his semi-final match in Australia has given his fans reason to expect a determined showing at Roland Garros.

Ole Fernando! All the way in Paris!

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.