The One That Got Away

Federer finally managed to claim the Grand Slam title that he has been pursuing for the past five years. Since 2004, when the Swiss ace managed to bag himself the titles of the other three Grand Slam tournaments, it looked like he could be the third member of an elite trio of stars that have won all four titles in the same year.

But as it turned out, former world number one, Gustavo Kuerten, put an end to Federer’s dream of joining Donald Budge and Rod Laver in the record books.

With Nadal and Murray both crashing out of the Tournoi de Roland-Garros, Federer knew that he wouldn’t get a better chance of claiming the one title that has eluded him over the years. Nadal, for last three years has beaten Federer in the final of the French Open, to slowly take the 23 year old’s record to six Grand Slam titles.

A nervy semi final victory over Juan Martin del Potro kept Federer’s title dream alive, although fifth seed del Potro took the Swiss the distance in a five set encounter.

After finally making it through the gauntlet into the final, it was destined to only finish one way. Despite Robin Soderling’s best efforts, he couldn’t stand in the way of Federer’s pursuit of making Grand Slam history.

Federer took the match in straight sets to finally join the elite list of tennis stars that have achieved victory at all four Grand Slam tournaments, not to mention equalling Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles.

This victory is the defining win of Federer's career.

Other men who have won all four Grand Slam tournaments

Fred Perry
Roy Emerson
Andre Agassi
Donald Budge
Rod Laver

Grand Slam Titles

14 Pete Sampras Roger Federer
12 Roy Emerson
11 Rod Laver Bjorn Borg
10 Bill Tilden