After falling to three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten in 2004, Roger Federer's frustration in Paris was due solely to his rival Rafael Nadal.

Federer then hit an inside-out forehand on the line to save the break point and went on to complete a miraculous five-set comeback, 6–7(4–7), 5–7, 6–4, 6–0, 6–2.

[6] After dismissing Gaël Monfils in the quarterfinals, Federer faced rising star Juan Martín del Potro in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Söderling had backed up his momentous victory over Nadal with wins over Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando González to meet Federer in the final.

Unlike in the three previous years that Federer had contested the final, the day was overcast and soggy, creating slower conditions and lower bounces.

The second set was interrupted with Söderling on serve in the fourth game, when Jimmy Jump charged onto the court and ran towards Federer waving a flag and placing a jester's hat upon the player's head.

As the Swiss national anthem played, Federer was overcome with emotion, having finally captured the elusive title at Roland Garros.

The call by Eurosport on match point was thus: "Federer wins the French Open for the first time in his career; and in addition must surely be regarded now as the greatest male player of all-time.

Söderling remained a fixture in the top ten from 2009–2011 until he was forced to stop playing, while still ranked number 5 in the world, and ultimately had to retire after contracting a serious case of mononucleosis.