Roger Federer vs Janko Tipsarevic Preview – French Open 2011
Former world number one, Swiss Roger Federer hopes to continue his ascent at the prestigious Stade Roland Garros on Friday, 27th May, as he gears up to take on the Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the third round of the 2011
Roland Garros.
An invisible man in the draw, Federer has long stopped being a threat to anyone – or so everyone believes. A former world number one, old age has finally put the Swiss maestro in a slump in the current season.
Starting the year at Doha with a title win against at Davydenko, Federer has failed to make it to final of any event save one, falling mostly in the semi-finals.
Defending champion at the 2011 Australian Open, Federer met his first defeat of the season as he lost to eventual champion, Nova Djokovic – the Serbian juggernaut this season. A week later, Federer again fell to the Serbian might
as he lost the title match at Dubai. This was the Swiss’ last final appearance for the year and what came next was a steep downward spiral.
Competing in back to back five Masters series event, the maestro fell to the Djoker at Indian Wells in the semis; to Rafael Nadal at Miami and Madrid in the same and to Jurgen Melzer at Monte Carlo in the quarters. However, his
worst performance of the season came at the Rome Masters where he was ousted from the event in the round of sixteen by Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Could it be that the Swiss phenomenon is finally over?
Of course not and shame on anyone who thinks otherwise. Putting on a splendid performance at the 2011 Roland Garros this week, Federer blasted past his first and second round opponents in straight sets to secure a berth for himself
in the third round. Anyone who watched these matches could tell you that Federer is once more in top form and ready to trouble the top two, should the need present itself.
Playing Tipsarevic in the third round, Federer not only holds the experience card but also the statistical advantage. Having met the Serb thrice before on tour, the Swiss holds a 3-0 lead in the pair’s career head-to-head.
Ranked 32nd in the world, the Serb is putting in his eighth performance at the event here with his career best being the third round. With no titles to his name and not enough experience to match the Swiss’ oodles of
experience here, the Serb might have to hope for a miracle if he hopes to better his career best here. However, pitted against the inform Fed Express, Tipsarevic might be meeting yet another third round exit here.
Although the Serb did enjoy straight sets victories in earlier rounds as well, including a 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 victory against Pere Riba in the second round, besting Federer in straight sets is a whole new ball game.
Prediction: Tipsarevic might be able to push the match further than three sets, however, Federer is the hot favourite.
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