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| May 23, 2005 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1426 |
Federer determined to end French Open jinx this time
PARIS, May 22: World number one Roger Federer, a four-time Grand Slam champion, believes this will be the year when he can finally win the French Open for the first time. “I’m confident I can do it,” the Swiss told reporters on Sunday. “If I win the French, I’ve got them all.”
Federer has won every grand slam but the Paris tournament, which starts on Monday.
The gifted all-court player has been busy rewriting tennis history but has never gone beyond the quarterfinals in Paris, where he has lost in the first round in two of the last three years.
The quiet Federer, who has the perfect game to shine on clay as he proved by winning in Hamburg last week without dropping a set, is slightly irritated by suggestions he had a French Open problem.
“I agree it’s the only one I haven’t won but I won three (grand slam titles) last year,” he said.
“You can’t expect to win them all right away. You have to be a little patient.”
Federer can expect a strong challenge at Roland Garros from Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal, who is trying to become the first man to win the French Open on debut since Swede Mats Wilander in 1982.
Nadal, who will turn 19 during the tournament, has emerged as a genuine favourite by winning five claycourt titles this season.
Nadal, the latest to rise in an endless series of brilliant Spanish baseliners, has impressed everybody including former world number one Andre Agassi, the 1999 French Open champion.
“His shots really look big, he moves great, has a real versatile forehand and seems to have one of the best competitive spirits that you’ll see in sports,” Agassi said of the young Spaniard on Sunday.
American Agassi, still going strong at 35 and about to enter the highlight of the claycourt season for the 17th time, did not rule out his own prospects.
“I’m striking the ball as well as ever and I’m as excited to be competing here as I’ve ever been,” he warned.
Maria Sharapova, the Wimbledon champion, could steal the limelight from the men by taking top spot in Paris and a second Grand Slam crown.
A strong run in Paris could see the glamorous 18-year-old, who has had a rousing start to the year, become the first Russian woman to hold the number one ranking.
A quarterfinalist here last year, she is determined to do better this year.
“Being a more experienced player and being physically a lot stronger makes me feel that I’ll last two weeks,” she said on Sunday.
“Last year, I didn’t think I would last that long.”
One of Shaparova’s most dangerous rivals is likely to be Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, the 2003 champion, who has impressed since returning to action in April after fighting a viral illness.
The Belgian has won three claycourt titles in succession.
“Everybody knows this is a special tournament for me,” said Henin-Hardenne,.
She refused, however, to be considered the favourite.
“I still have ups and downs and it will take me a few months to be 100 percent,” she added.
Fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, who lost to Henin-Hardenne in the 2003 final, said on Sunday she would enter the tournament despite a sore right knee.—Reuters
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