Remaining in the world’s elite for two decades and winning 20 major titles and over 100 ATP titles, Roger Federer is one of the most accomplished players in the history of the game. Asked about the most important move of his glorious career , Roger had to think before choosing this famous winner of the forehand against Tommy Haas at Roland Garros 2009.
A day after Robin Soderling delivered Rafael Nadal’s first loss at Roland Garros, Roger Federer survived a severe test from Tommy Haas to reach the quarterfinals and become the favorite to win his first title in Paris. On June 1, 2009, Roger knocked down the German 6-7, 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in three hours and seven minutes, qualifying for the last eight at Roland Garros for the sixth time. and moving to three matches from the elusive crown.
It was the 11th meeting between Roger and Tommy, who have known each other since juniors, and the Swiss won his ninth victory, also the eighth in a row. Haas, 31, reached the fourth round in Paris for the first time in seven years and arrived in Paris with just nine wins in the first five months of the season.
Haas was set to beat Roger in straight sets, leading 7-6, 7-5, 4-3 with a break point in Game 8 that could have sealed the deal for him and ruined Roger’s chances of winning. Roland Garros without the main rival of the draw!
In one of his most famous shots of his career, Federer fired a forehand to fend off that break chance and get a massive boost that led him to victory. Nothing was the same after that, and Federer made a comeback, winning 15 of the last 17 games to reserve his place in the quarterfinals, coming back from two sets to love for the fifth time in his career.
The Swiss had the numbers on his side after a one-sided scorecard in sets four and five, ending the match with 16 aces and saving three out of five break points to limit damage in his matches and keep the pressure on Tommy.
Haas had to play against 15 break points and broke seven times, losing speed in the final stages of the third set and struggling to keep pace with Roger in the final two sets. Federer got off to a perfect start, not losing a single point in six first-set service games and keeping the pressure on Haas with the German doing his best to stay in touch despite an obvious struggle on second serve.
After a solid smash, Tommy saved a break point in Game 6 and served well in the rest of the set to secure a tie-break after 40 minutes of play. After 24 consecutive points gained on serve since the start of the game, Roger opened a tie-break with a direct forehand error, and Tommy retained the advantage until the end, sacking two service winners to win the break 7-4.
Federer took a break in Game 3 of Set 2 and was untouchable in his matches until Game 8 when Tommy created his first break point of the game and converted it after Roger’s loose forehand to tie the score at 4-4.
Roger Federer chose the most important move of his career.
After that, the Swiss lost ground and suffered another break in Game 12 following further forehand errors, allowing Tommy to move two sets to love each other after just an hour and 28 minutes.
The third set started with seven easy catches from both sides, and this eighth game proved to be the deciding game, with a chance for a break for Haas after another colossal forehand error from Roger, who was on the edge of the defeat.
Federer pushed him back with a cross forehand winner that saved his life in this game and the entire tournament and held on after Haas’ forehand error to tie the score at 4-4 and increase his chances of ‘an ultimate return.
Tommy suffered a heavy blow in the next game, losing serve after leading 40-15 before Roger closed the set on his serve for 6-4, firing a forehand to reduce the deficit and extend the game that was now on his racket.
The German lost his serve at the start of the fourth set and Federer moved up 3-0 with a winning comeback in the third game. The three-time-beaten finalist was now in full control, grabbing the fourth consecutive break and winning the set with a forehand winning minutes later for 6-0 and favorite status in the decider.
Haas had two good catches early in the final set to regain at least a bit of his composure, but that’s all we saw of him as he lost the serve at 2-2 after a forehand that sealed his fate. Roger confirmed the break with three aces in a row, and a return winner sent him 5-2.
Haas was ready to fight until the very last point, creating a chance for a break in Game 8 with a forehand winner. Roger cleared it with a forehand volley winner and converted the second match point with an unreturned serve to start a big party and continue his way to the only Major he missed in his collection.
“It’s not easy to pick the most important shot of my career, but I would go with that forehand against Tommy Haas at Roland Garros 2009. We always think about it every time we see each other. In the end, I won the match and conquered Roland Garros and the Grand Slam in career and equaled Pete Sampras’ record in the Major.
He felt like he was wearing something super important at the time. I was aware that a failure would most likely mark my exit, as we both knew. The momentum shifted to my side of the pitch, and I had a wonderful summer after that, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon, ”said Roger Federer.
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