'I gasped' - The story of Roger Federer’s most important shot of his career at 2009 French Open

There was a compilation video released on Roger Federer’s 41st birthday last month titled ‘41 Roger Federer Shots That Defied Science’. You can probably picture most them: glorious half-volley backhands, wonderfully-disguised service return drop shots, forehands down the line, flicked winners on the run, that leaping back-court smash against Andy Roddick. One shot that doesn’t feature in the compilation, or in many other Federer montages, is a shot from the fourth round of the 2009 French Open, a shot that Federer would last year describe as the most important of his career.

Ad Had he not made the shot, he may be retiring after this week's Laver Cup without ever winning a French Open title. Laver CupDjokovic savouring 'unique' chance to bond with Big Four rivals12 HOURS AGO The build-up The 2009 French Open is largely remembered for two things: Federer winning and Rafael Nadal losing to Robin Soderling. Nadal had not lost at the French Open since lifting the trophy on his debut in 2005 and had thrashed Soderling 6-1 6-0 just a few weeks earlier in Rome.

But the 23rd seed crushed 61 winners as he recorded one of the biggest shocks this century. A day after Nadal’s defeat, Federer took to the court for his fourth-round match against Tommy Haas. While Nadal had been dominant in Paris since winning in 2005, Federer had ruled the rest of the tour in that time.

He’d reached the final at 14 of the last 15 Grand Slams, winning nine of them, and had been world No. 1 for a record 237 straight weeks until the 2008 Olympics. The only thing missing was a French Open title.