Federer wins French Open

The Swiss second seed, braced himself to cope with mounting expectations after the shock exit of four time winner Rafael Nadal, took what was believed to be his best chance to crown in Paris. 

Giant killer Soderling had produced one of the biggest upsets in this sport by preventing clay king Nadal from breaking his compatriot Bjorn Berg's record of five but failed to stop Federer in the final showdown.

While playing without his usual composure, the No. 23 seed took credit for putting on a real fight in the second set in which he earned a tiebreak only to lose 7-1.
 
Roger Federer's Major wins:

1. Wimbledon 2003:
Federer, 21, produces a near-faultless display to beat Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) and claim his first grand-slam title. He had previously failed to get past the quarter-finals at a major.

2. Australian Open 2004:
Federer celebrates becoming world No 1 by outclassing Marat Safin 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-2 in what proves to be a one-sided final.

3. Wimbledon 2004:
For the second year in succession, Federer is brought to tears after winning Wimbledon, digging deep to come from behind and beat Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in a stuttering display.

4. US Open 2004:
Federer becomes the first man in history to win his first four grand-slam finals - and the first man in 16 years to claim three Majors in one year - with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 rout of Lleyton Hewitt, his first victory in New York.

5. Wimbledon 2005:
Federer completes a hat-trick of titles at SW19 with a devastating display to defeat Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, labelling his performance "flawless" and the best in his life.

6. US Open 2005:
Federer dashes 35-year-old Andre Agassi's hopes of a fairytale victory in New York, defending his title with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 win.

7. Australian Open 2006:
Federer recovers from a poor start to sink unfancied Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 for his second title in Melbourne.

8. Wimbledon 2006:
Federer takes his winning streak on grass to 48 matches by beating arch rival Rafael Nadal 6-0, 7-6, (7/5), 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 for a fourth Wimbledon crown.

9. US Open 2006:
Federer become the first man in the Open era to win three successive titles Wimbledon and New York in the same years by downing Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, moving past Agassi and Fred Perry in the list of grand-slam winners.

10. Australian Open 2007:
Federer becomes the first man since 1980 to win a grand slam without dropping a set as he sees off Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 for a third title in Melbourne.

11. Wimbledon 2007:
Federer emulates Bjorn Borg by winning a fifth straight title here, beating Nadal for the second year in succession in an epic five-setter - 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-2 - that lasted close to four hours.

12. US Open 2007:
Federer was given a tough test by Novak Djokovic but won 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, despite trailing by a break in each set. It was his fourth consecutive title in New York.

13. US Open 2008:
Federer recovers from his Roland Garros and Wimbledon heartbreak months earlier to win a fifth straight title at Flushing Meadows, beating Britain's Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 in the final as a second seed.

14. French Open 2009:
Federer grabs the elusive title at Roland Garros by beating surprise finalist Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4. The Swiss had lost the three previous finals to Nadal.