2009 French Open – Men's Singles 2009 French Open – Men's Singles Rafael Nadal was the four-time defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to Robin Söderling in a huge upset. This was Nadal's first defeat (of two) at the French Open, having won the title in all four of his previous appearances at Roland Garros since debuting in 2005. With Nadal's loss, there would be a first time French Open champion for 2009. Roger Federer beat Söderling in the final 6–1, 7–6, 6–4 to win his first French Open title, complete the career Grand Slam, and equal Pete Sampras' then-record of 14 Grand Slam
Rafael Nadal 81. Nadal won the Golden Bagel Award for 2005, with eleven 6–0 sets during the year. Also, he earned the highest year-end ranking ever by a Spaniard and the ATP Most Improved Player of the Year award. Nadal missed the Australian Open because of a foot injury. In February, he lost in the semifinals of the first tournament he played, the Open 13 tournament in Marseille, France. Two weeks later, he handed Roger Federer his first loss of the year in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open (in 2006, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray were the only