Hollow Victory for Roger Federer?

As soon as Roger Federer dried his last tear of joy, the backlash began. Reporters and columnists quickly started dismissing his championship in the French Open because of something Roger could not control. Federer had no part in determining who he played in the final at Roland Garros. He simply did what he had done 13 times before- win a Grand Slam.

It isn't as if Rafael Nadal wasn't in the field. He was there. The number one seed in fact. It was his tournament to lose and he did. Federer made it through the draw he was given as the two seed. In the final Federer beat Robin Soderling in straight sets. Soderling defeated Nadal in four sets earlier in the tournament.

I am not making the argument that Federer would have beaten Nadal had they met Sunday for the French Open Championship. If history is any indication, Nadal probably would have won. However, that didn't happen. The only thing we know for certain is Roger Federer was the one in a fetal position, emotion flowing out of his eyes, victorious on Sunday afternoon. He has completed his goal of a career Grand Slam. Roger Federer has greatly improved his resume and is now one Slam short of owning the record for most Grand Slam titles of all time. So, instead of finding ways to discredit his most recent win, relish having had the opportunity to see one of the greatest tennis players of all time conquer a surface that became more of a nemisis to him than Rafael Nadal ever had.