Can Roger Federer win Second French Open Trophy
Last year’s French Open champion, Roger Federer, is once again ready for the clay courts.
Federer is obviously excited for the clay court season, as he is quoted saying that “It helps to move on to a different surface… I’m looking forward to clay court season”.
Federer received his 16th grand slam title last year at the Australian Open and was slated to compete in Dubai last February, withdrawing at the last minute due to a lung infection. Last March he lost to Marcos Baghdatis in the third round of the Indian Wells and, more recently, lost to Thomas Berdych beat him in a third-set tiebreaker in the fourth round at Key Biscayne. During a recent postgame interview, Federer admitted that his sickness has affected the outcomes of his games.
To a keen observer, Federer’s record in the Masters 1000 tournaments might not be that impressive; in fact, some of those who are hoping that Federer may win back to back championships at this year’s French Open may find this fact quite unsettling. Since early 2007, Federer won seven out of the thirteen Grand Slam tourneys he has competed in but only 4 out of the 28 Masters 1000 tournaments he has participated in.
Although Roger’s showing at this year’s clay season is less than stellar, he is still considered to be a main contender at this year’s French Open, along with his nemesis Rafael Nadal (who is the one of the favorites at this year’s Roland Garros, despite the fact that he has been sidelined for 8 weeks due to knee problems).
Other threats to Roger Federer’s back to back quest are Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic, a crowd favorite due to his courtside antics. Soderling reached the Key Biscayne semis and he was responsible for ending Nadal’s 31 match winning streak at the French Open. Djokovic is a two-time semifinalist at the French open. If pitted against Andy Roddick, Roger Federer is favored to win against him. Roddick is known to have a poor showing at the French Open; his best finish was at the fourth round of the tournament.
Federer fans will happily accept a match between Andy Roddick at this year’s French Open and they should hope that he avoids facing Nadal at the earlier rounds of the French Open. Since the year 2005, Federer is 0-4 against Nadal; while Nadal is 30-0 is against everyone who has competed with in the French Open.
It’s quite obvious that Roger is clearly not the big favorite in Paris. In fact, he admitted it in Rome; not as any gentlemanly gesture of some sort, but more of Roger stating an obvious fact in the French Open. In a recent interview in Rome, Federer said that "I would love to say I'm the big favorite [at the French Open], but I don't think it's quite right, even though I won the French Open last year.” Local gambling sites in Paris which accept wagers for the upcoming French Open today have Nadal getting 1 / 2 odds compared to the 3 / 1 odds for Roger; these odds can still against Federer because of Nadal’s spectalar showing in Rome and Monte Carlo.
All in all, despite being the French Open’s defending champion, despite being world number 1 in men’s singles tennis, Roger Federer still has a lot to prove in the upcoming French Open. Saddled with a lung infection last January and having a poor showing at the past clay tournaments, Roger Federer’s campaign to the top of the French Open will definitely be a steep climb. With Nadal in his way plus a couple of young guns, gunning for his number position, Federer’s time on top may be over. Unless, of course, he proves us all wrong once again.
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