Federer one set away from French Open title

PARIS (Reuters) - World number two Roger Federer was one set away from his maiden French Open title after opening a 6-1 7-6 lead over Swede Robin Soderling in the final on Sunday.

The Swiss, looking to equal Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles, stormed through the first set in just 23 minutes after benefiting from his 23rd-seeded opponent's unforced errors.

He needed 49 minutes to bag the second under light rain.

Federer started the match confidently, racing into a 4-0 lead with two breaks.

Soderling, the man who ended world number one Rafael Nadal's four-year reign on the Paris clay in the fourth round, held serve for 4-1.

But Federer, who never lost to Soderling in nine previous encounters, kept up the pressure and clinched the first set on Soderling's serve with a crosscourt passing shot.

The match was briefly interrupted after a man came on Centre Court towards the Swiss two with a red and blue flag during the fourth game of the second set.

The man jumped from the stand opposite from the media box and approached Federer, touching him with the flag.

Leaping over the net towards Soderling, the man was tackled by Roland Garros security officers and carried away from the court.