The No. 1 Frenchman had advanced to the QFs or better in eight of 15 tournaments in the first eight months of the season, en route to a 36-13 match record on the ATP World Tour. Captured titles in Johannesburg (d. Chardy) and Marseille (d. Llodra) in the first two months of 2009. The Frenchman lost his opening match at Washington to John Isner in a third-set tie-break before hitting back to reach the semi-finals at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Montreal, defeating World No. 1 Roger Federer in the semi-finals in a third-set tie-break – having recovered from a 1-5 deficit in the final set. Lost out to Andy Murray in the finals.