Watch: Here's the only – and perhaps the last – time Roger Federer won the French Open
The Swiss has saddened his fans by pulling out of this year's edition, making it the first time he will miss a Grand Slam in 17 years.
When Roger Federer announced on Thursday that he was pulling out of the 2016 French Open, it was hard to believe. Yes, the Swiss maestro is turning 35 this August and the last time he won a Grand Slam was in 2012, but he has never missed a major since the 1999 US Open. This means that Federer will not be turning up at a Grand Slam for the first time this century, and that's an exceptional record.
The Swiss isn't getting any younger and has struggled with back and knee injuries this year. He underwent knee surgery after crashing out of the Australian Open semi-finals in January, and has played in only four tournaments in 2016. It is, therefore, anyone's guess whether we will ever get to see him play at the French Open again.
Federer does not have many fond memories of Roland Garros, where he has lost four finals – all to his great rival and clay-court specialist Rafael Nadal. However, he did get his hands on the Coupe des Mousquetaires on one occasion. It was in 2009, when Nadal suffered a shock defeat in the fourth round to Robin Soderling from Sweden.
Federer and Soderling went on to meet in the final, where the Swiss won in straight sets to bag his first ever French Open title and 14th major overall, tying with Pete Sampras. Probably aware that this was his best chance to win the title, Federer produced an almost faultless display of tennis, winning 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 (video above).
As he was presented the coveted Coupe des Mousquetaires by Andre Agassi, Federer said, "It was probably my greatest victory, I was under big pressure. I did it and it's phenomenal. It was great to be on the podium as a winner for a change."
