The 2009 French Open (also known as Roland Garros after the famous French aviator) was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, from May 24 through June 7, 2009.
Rafael Nadal and Ana Ivanovic were the defending champions. Both were unsuccessful in their title defences, both losing in the fourth round: Nadal to Robin Söderling and Ivanovic to Victoria Azarenka. Nadal's loss to Söderling was his first (and, as of 2013, only) defeat in the tournament since debuting in 2005. Söderling then defeated Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando González on his way to the final, where he was defeated by Roger Federer. Federer equalled Pete Sampras' then-record of 14 Grand Slam titles, and completed his Career Grand Slam by winning the tournament; he had lost the previous three finals to Nadal. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the runner-up to Justine Henin-Hardenne in 2006, was the women's champion this year. She defeated World No. 1 Dinara Safina in the final, avenging a semi-final loss to the same opponent in 2008.
Read more about 2009 French Open: Seeds, Wildcard Entries, Media Coverage
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“I will soon be going out to shape all the singing tomorrows.”
—Gabriel Péri, French Communist leader. Letter, July 1942, written shortly before his execution by the Germans. Quoted in New York Times (April 11, 1943)
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)