Roger Federer was in Barcelona last week for Wilson sponsor purposes and the Swiss met the press. And the topic in Spain was the resurgence of Rafael Nadal, something Federer had no doubts about.
“Zero. Absolutely not,” Federer said to Italian press via google translation. “Maybe you journalists were upset, but we players of course were not. A guy who won nine times in Paris, nine times in Monte Carlo, who was world number one for much time does not lose his qualities.”
“Maybe we have come to expect to him to recover faster from injuries, but I cannot imagine Nadal at such a low level. To me, he is always there at the top. And on clay, he is still one of the first two or three players in the world,” Federer added
Federer also handicapped the upcoming French Open. declaring Nadal as still the man to beat.
“He is the tennis player to beat,” Federer said. “Novak’s never won in Paris. Maybe now he’s the favorite, but Nadal is Nadal. I am happy of what he showed to those, who did not believe that he could win in Monte Carlo.”
Federer, who won the French Open in 2009, doesn’t dismiss his chances at the event.
“I don’t think I have zero chance to lift the title at Roland Garros,” Federer also said. “I think if the draw is in my favor, if I’m playing well, I’ll have my chances.”
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