See Roger Federer share tears and laughter with CNN before their final on Sunday.
The year had just started for Fedor, and he was feeling the stress of playing in the French Open semi-finals.
‘I lost the match and it’s emotional,’ he said.
Federer played the final of his 23rd French Open in Paris on Sunday. The year had just started for Fedor, and he was feeling the stress of playing in the French Open semi-finals.
‘It’s been a difficult year to get to the semi-finals,’ he said.
It was a far cry from the time Federer was an under-appreciated 19-year-old with the promise of becoming the tennis star of his generation but he has made history at the French Open – becoming the first man to reach the final nine times.
Roger Federer of Switzerland was a teenage sensation on the circuit. The year had just started for Fedor, and he was feeling the stress of playing in the French Open semi-finals. He was wearing white and black to raise money for his charity foundation, but Federer said he was not feeling the pressure. ‘I lost the match and it’s emotional,’ he said. The year had just started for Fedor, and he was feeling the stress of playing in the French Open semi-finals. Federer had to overcome the ‘best of the rest’ – Rafael Nadal – in the semi-finals and was up against the form of Kei Nishikori, whom he had never beaten.
Federer’s semi-final opponents at the 2009 French Open
Rafael Nadal
The biggest name at the 2009 French Open, he was the favourite for the title
He is now in his fourth appearance in the last nine years, a record on the ATP tour that no other tennis player has matched.
The Spaniard has had a tough season, and Federer was looking for the opening act of his season.
‘I thought Rafa was a tough opponent and I was going to try to put him on the back foot,’ Federer said.
‘He’s had a great year. So it was a great opportunity to give him an outing. But the rest of the season is going to be a