Paris: Roger Federer lambasted Rafael Nadal’s growing army of critics on Sunday, insisting that the world No 1 and not Novak Djokovic remains his favourite to win the French Open.
Nadal comes into Roland Garros, where he has been champion eight times, with his game seemingly at crisis point.
His defeat to world No 2 Djokovic in the Rome Masters final marked the first time since 2004 that he had lost three claycourt matches in the same year.
Even the successful defence of his Madrid Masters title was achieved only after Kei Nishikori was forced to retire from their final with a back injury. Before that, Nadal was knocked out in the quarter-finals in Barcelona and Monte Carlo.
But Federer threw his weight behind Nadal on Sunday, just moments after equalling the Spaniard’s record of 59 Roland Garros wins courtesy of a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 breeze past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.
“It doesn’t go week by week,” said Federer. “I don’t know who’s talking all the time, but Rafa is the favourite, and then Novak, and then the rest, you know. It’s very clear.
“I think he’s back where he wants to be. He’s played the matches he needs to play. He’s even won at home in Madrid. So I think he probably is where he wants to be, in my opinion.”
Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues.
The Serb, who needs a French Open title to join Federer and Nadal in completing a career Grand Slam, injured his right wrist in Monte Carlo, then skipped Madrid before storming to victory in Rome.
“Three weeks ago he couldn’t play tennis anymore,” said the Swiss. “When he was injured, oh, my God, you know. Things are looking so terrible. Now everything is great.”
