NO DOUBT

 

 If there was any lingering doubt about whether Roger Federer was the greatest player to pick up a tennis racket, he provided the answer at 1509 GMT on Sunday.

The stylish Swiss showed his versatility by getting his hands on the Musketeers' Cup at the French Open to complete his collection of grand slam titles. Job done, Federer started to rake in the records and the accolades.

He was the proud owner of a record-equalling 14th major trophy, drawing level with Pete Sampras, and he joined Don Budge, Fred Perry, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi as the only men to win all four slams.

Only American Agassi had succeeded on three different surfaces since until the 1970s, all the slams barring the French Open were played on grass.

To put Federer's feat into context, one has to marvel at the size of the obstacle he had just cleared.

Since 2005, four-times Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal had assumed the role of being Federer's personal tormentor, beating the Swiss four times in Paris, including the last three finals.

Each time the Swiss arrived hoping to complete a career slam and each time the Spaniard sucked the life-blood out of him, particularly in last year's final when Federer won a measly four games.

Two soul-destroying five-set final losses to Nadal at last year's Wimbledon and the Australian Open in January turned Federer into a sobbing wreck.

But just when it seemed that Federer would join the likes of Sampras and John McEnroe by never conquering Roland Garros, a golden opportunity dropped into his lap when the freak from Mallorca was knocked out by Robin Soderling.

After the most nerve-jangling journey of his career, Federer climbed the summit and the view looked good from the top.

 

REUTERS