Points won by each set: | 26-11, 40-33, 32-28 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
37 % Federer – 30 of 79
19 % Soderling – 18 of 91
Federer, in his 10th French Open appearance, was finally rewarded for his persistence. He was the best player in the world in the years 2005-08 when the French Open was held, but failed to win the title always losing to Nadal, and paradoxically when Nadal overthrown him as No. 1, the Spaniard couldn’t get another Parisian title being shockingly eliminated in the fourth round by Soderling. Federer turned the final into a “hardcourt match”, he served four times in the tie-break (7/1) delivering 4 aces! He improved his H2H vs Soderling to 10-0. One year later on the same court Soderling will take a revenge winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4!
Federer’s route to his 59th title:
1 Alberto Martin 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
2 Jose Acasuso 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2
3 Paul-Henri Mathieu 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
4 Tommy Haas 6-7(4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
Q Gael Monfils 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-4
S Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
W Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4