The stakes were really high:

He was in a Grand Slam Final. One win away from the elusive French open crown. One victory short of a 14th Grand slam title, to equal Pete Sampras’s feat. A performance which could make him only the 7th player in the open era to win all 4 major slams. He was up against the Super-Swede Robin Soderling, the conqueror of Clay King Rafa earlier in the tournament, in this all-important final. His passage to the final had not been smooth though, he was pushed to the limit by Haas and Potro in the earlier rounds.

After almost 100 minutes of riveting tennis in the heavy clay of Roland Garros, HE DID IT. He is now G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)!! He is the Swiss maestro – Roger Federer!

Finally, the moment had arrived for the champion. For it was on this red clay, that Roger’s untiring charge for the French crown had been thwarted for the past 4 years by Rafael Nadal, the Spanish armada. But this time the Spanish armada had sunk. On a loss that hit 10 on Richter scale, an earthquake that shook the roots of tennis folklore. Rafa, unbeaten since his Roland Garros debut in 2005, was eliminated by then little-known Robin Soderling in 4 sets. What made this victory even more shocking was the fact that this same Soderling was demolished 6-1, 6-0 on Madrid clay by Rafa himself just a month back. However this was a different Robin, as Super-Soderling unleashed a flurry of unreachable winners to strangle Rafa’s attempt to take the crown for a 5th consecutive time, hence breaking Bjorn Borg’s record. The 31-match winning streak had come to a screeching halt.

And the minute that supersonic upset occurred, Fedex heartbeat had become faster. He, of all men, knew that this was his chance. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay his hands on the very precious French crown. The desperation, the pressure and the change in attitude could be seen in the next matches of Roger. He came from 2 sets down against the German Tommy Haas and was 2 sets to 1 down against the dangerous Argentinean Potro. As the Swiss himself said – ‘Wherever I go now, people come out from everywhere and scream – this is your chance, you have to do it this time. Its now or never’.

The 5 time Wimbledon champion, 5 time US Open winner and 3 time Australian Open owner had silenced his critics once and for all. For the only thing that separated Fedex from the title of G.O.A.T was the elusive French Open title.

However, a 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 comprehensive win over the now-famous Swede meant that Roger Federer had reached the pinnacle of glory. For whatever he may do now in his upcoming tennis future and his subsequent life, the colossal burden has been lifted from Roger’s shoulders forever now.

As one of my dearest friend ‘Sid’ quoted in his sms just after the historic victory:

“Those tears after realizing the dream of conquering the world.. that sigh of proving yet again that he is better than the best.. those glittering eyes of the legend.. the king of the kings.. yet again achieving superlative supremacy on this world of tennis-ing arena.. we salute you.. Sir Roger Federer..!!”"

Roger Federer – G.O.A.T :-)