Roger Federer returns to Stade Roland Garros after four years since losing to fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the quarters in 2015. The Swiss Maestro’s legacy on clay, best left for another article, has always been defined by the losses he has endured, rather than the laurels he’s won. The No. 3 seed won his solitary title in 2009, defeating Robin Soderling in the final to complete his career Grand Slam. Ten years later, can he win it again?
The Swiss hasn’t tasted much success in Paris losing four finals, all of them to Rafael Nadal. His last final appearance was in 2011, after defeating a red hot Novak Djokovic in the semis. Returning to the red dirt has been nothing short of eventful for the Swiss.
2019 clay court season
Madrid 2019
Federer returned to Madrid, a three-time champ at the venue, with a routine straight-sets win over Richard Gasquet, 6-2 6-3. It was a much-needed confidence boost, which he would need for his next match against Gael Monfils.
The Frenchman is no pushover on clay and can trouble the very best on his day. Federer though played in a league of his own serving a bagel in the first set. Monfils dug in the second set to take it 6-4 to make it one set all. The third set was a topsy turvy affair. Monfils broke Federer’s serve to race to a 4-1 lead. Serving at 2-4 (30-40) the Frenchman saw a backhand slice down the line return winner go by him and with that his break advantage. Federer clinched this tight affair in the tiebreak 7-3 to set up a much-awaited quarterfinal clash with Dominic Thiem.
Thiem is widely touted as one of the firm favourites for the French Open. Many believed this to be a one-sided affair however it was anything but that. Federer came out on top in the first set 6-3 with his attacking game proving too much for Thiem. The Swiss used his slice backhand to good effect and was playing at his refreshingly best. Neither player gave a quarter in the second set and it was befitting it ended in a tiebreak. Federer squandered two match points to give Thiem the set who took it 13-11 with an overhead winner.
The third set saw Thiem take an early break in the third game with Federer breaking him back in the eighth game to level it up at 4-4. Serving at 4-4 30-40, Federer charged towards the net on the back of his first serve down the middle only to see a Thiem inside out forehand whiz past him and catch the line. On a grass court, that serve probably wouldn’t have elicited that response but the extra time albeit very small that clay provides has been a downfall for many. Thiem served it out 6-4.
Rome 2019
Federer opened up his Rome campaign–having never won a title there–against Joao Sousa. The Swiss Maestro blitzed his way to a 6-4 6-3 win breaking the Portuguese’s serve three times. Next up was the Croat, Borna Coric. Remember their classic at Indian Wells last year? This match proved to be even more nail-biting.
The Croat came out firing on all cylinders, breaking Federer’s serve in the first game and racing to a 4-0 lead. His backhand down the line was on full display and was causing a lot of trouble. The first set, 6-2 to Coric. In the second, Federer broke Coric’s serve and took a 4-2 lead. Serving for the set Federer dropped his serve and then broke his opponent’s serve again to take the set 6-4. Federer’s serve was getting neutralized by some great angled returns off the backhand side from Coric but the Swiss was holding his own in longer rallies, even breaking out the odd drop shot to keep Coric on his toes.
The decider went into a tiebreak and this time it was Federer’s turn to save two match points. Coric was leading 6-4 in the tiebreak when he dumped a forehand into the net to hand Federer a reprieve. Federer saved the next with an unreturned service. At 8-7 to Federer, Coric missed an easy volley coming off a decent approach shot to give Federer the victory. The Swiss moved into the quarters to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in a rematch of this year’s Australian Open quarterfinal.
Sadly, Federer had to retire from that match with a right leg injury.
French Open 2019 Draw
Federer has a tricky draw to navigate in Paris if he wants to reach the second week. His first threat comes in the third round, where he’s likely to face Matteo Berrettini. The Italian has been in fine form reaching the finals in Munich beating Bautista Agut in the semis. Alexander Zverev was his next big scalp, beating him in straight sets at Rome.
Should the Swiss come out unscathed, he would face the man who beat Berrettini at Rome, Diego Schwartzman, or quite possibly Marco Cecchinato. Both of them are proven clay courters with Diego reaching the semis at Rome, losing a close match to Djokovic, and Cecchinato, who beat Djokovic on his stunning run to the semis last year at Roland Garros.
Federer’s quarterfinal match on current form would in all likelihood be against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek is in blistering form, winning in Madrid and Estoril. In the semis, the Swiss has been drawn against Nadal. In the championship match, either Djokovic or Thiem would most likely be present on the other side of the net.
While Federer is expected to waltz through his first two matches and slug it out to win two more, it’s tough seeing him go past that.
Prediction: Quarter Finals
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