Would Roger Federer’s legacy be any different without a French Open title? The former world number 5, Jo Durie, once said, “I think it was huge for Roger to win a Slam at Roland-Garros.” Despite being at the pinnacle of the sport, the French Open title continued to elude Federer before 2009. By that time, his arch-rival Rafael Nadal had won at Roland Garros four times in a row since his debut in 2005 and had beaten the Swiss in the previous three finals. However, Nadal’s shocking loss at the hands of Robin Soderling in the R16 created a now-or-never chance for the Swiss maestro to achieve a Career Grand Slam at his least favorite venue, and he didn’t let it go. Federer’s majestic triumph at the 2009 French Open is now getting compared to the golf star Rory McIlroy’s incredible feat at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia.
After beating Nadal in the R16, Soderling managed to make it to the final of the French Open, 2009, but he bumped into Federer, who was in no mood to let the opportunity go. “This was my greatest victory. I can now go the rest of my career without worrying that I would never win the French Open,” said the Swiss, as he handed Soderling a straight-set thrashing.
If we take a look back at the 2009 French Open, the pressure was immense on Roger Federer to deliver after the early exit of the ‘King of Clay’ in the final. In the fourth round of that competition, Federer faced a tough challenge at the hands of Tommy Haas. However, he managed to bounce back from two sets down to beat Haas by 6-7,5-7,6-4,6-0,6-2. Recalling the pressure on him after Nadal’s exit, Federer once revealed, “From then on, the next nine or 10 days felt like forever… I knew that instead of the tournament becoming easier, it was going to become more difficult because of the pressure.”
Just like Federer, even Rory McIlroy had been trying for 11 years to join the golf’s elite group of the career Grand Slam holders. And, his long wait came to an end on Sunday with a win at the Masters. He defeated the Englishman Rose in a redo of hole 18 after sinking a four-foot putt to birdie and securing the historic victory.
Relating this victory to Federer’s historic feat in 2009 at the Nothing Major Show, the American ex-pro Steve Johnson said, “I don’t know if you guys felt the same but you think him (McIlroy) Sunday at Augusta, trying to close that tournament out and Roger in 2009 after Rafa loses, trying to close out his career grand slam was feeling more pressure in that moment. Is that a relatable athletic moment pressure?”
Sam Querrey gave it a nod and chimed in saying, “Spot on, like year Roger trying to win the French to complete the career grand slam and he’s playing Soderling, who’s a heavy favorite, and then Rory trying to create the career grand slam for 10 years…I’m going to go with like a bigger moment for Rory to get this than it was for Federer to complete the career grand slam at the French Open.” Even John Isner said, “I also think that five-foot putt that he had on 18 to win is a lot more pressure than serving a match out of win because it just goes… you’ve more leeway trying to serve it out, it’s not just one point.”
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – May 31, 2021 Switzerland’s Roger Federer before his first round match against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
With this victory, McIlroy has now become the sixth player to accomplish this feat, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. After sealing this emphatic victory, he got a bit emotional, tossing his putter and hat in the air and letting out a huge scream before falling to his knees as the crowd gave him a loud cheer for his astonishing achievement. Just like Federer, even McIlroy took a sigh of relief after the match.
“This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time, and I think the last ten coming here, with the burden of the grand slam on my shoulders, and trying to achieve that. I’m sort of wondering what we’re going to talk about going into next year’s Masters,” said the five-time major champion.
And, Federer himself congratulated the Northern Irish golfer on his biggest success.
Roger Federer congratulates Rory McIlroy for registering a win at the Masters and completing his career grand slam
Roger Federer has been a role model to the tennis fans across the globe, and guess what? Rory McIlroy is also among those fans! In 2013, the golfer stated, “He’s (Federer) a role model, someone I can pattern myself after.” Then, in another interview with CBS Sports a few years later, he reflected on how he draws inspiration from tennis stars like Federer and Nadal
“In my mind, I think I’m more Nadal than I am Federer. But I’m not. I just don’t have his grit and will. I don’t think anyone [does]. Roger, he just loves playing tennis. I think as I’ve gotten into the meat of my career — my 15th or 16th year on tour — I’ve really worked hard on making sure I still love the game of golf, and I don’t just see it as a job or a means to end. That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve tried to take out of what Roger has done,” McIlroy said.
What did the Swiss Maestro say about the world number 3 golfer, after he accomplished one of the biggest feats in his career? Well, Roger Federer was present there on the lawns of Augusta, Georgia, for the historic Masters golf tournament over the weekend. Sharing his experience, he wrote on Instagram, “Incredible to have been at @themasters this year! The energy, the setting, and the level of play were truly something special. ”
Federer also congratulated McIlroy by adding, “Huge congrats to @rorymcilroy on winning the green jacket.” The Swiss maestro thanked everyone involved in that iconic event for making his stay so memorable. He also shared a few glimpses of his golfing session in that post. And hey, he is not bad at golf either. At least, those pictures don’t suggest so.
Now that he is retired, Federer has more time in hand to enjoy himself on the green, and fans would love glimpses of it.
The post History Hangs Heavy as Tennis Experts Weigh Rory McIlroy’s Augusta Pressure Against Roger Federer’s 2009 Breakthrough appeared first on EssentiallySports.
