Federer eager to take on Nadal
History means everything to Roger Federer. Ever since he became the first Swiss man 
to win a grand slam crown at Wimbledon in 2003, the world number one has enjoyed entering his name into the record books several times over.
Federer is now eyeing another feat at the French Open, which begins Sunday. He aims to become only the third man after Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold all four major titles at once.
“I enjoy winning tournaments. I enjoy playing well at slams. I know the importance of winning the French, what it would do to my career,” said the 24-year-old, who has won seven of the last 11 grand slam titles but has yet to triumph at Roland Garros.
Federer stands only seven matches away from achieving his goal and, having contested 13 consecutive finals, the opening six matches in Paris are likely to be a formality. If the world’s top two players live up to their seedings, however, the final on June 11 will be another story.
Only one man has beaten Federer this year. Unfortunately for the Swiss, that man happens to be second-ranked Rafael Nadal and the Spanish claycourt king has humbled Federer in each of their three meetings in 2006.
The last time Federer failed to reach a final was almost 12 months ago, terrorised into submission by Nadal in the last four at Roland Garros. He assessed that match as “the worst semi-final I ever played”.
Since then the world’s best player has crammed nine more trophies on to his mantelpiece, proving his versatility by winning titles on three different surfaces in each of the last three years. Equipped with a brand of tennis which recent history suggests should be a liability on the slow, gruelling clay courts of Roland Garros, Federer’s talent is such that he can still be expected to quash all rivals — but one.
Since beating Federer en route to winning his first grand slam in the French capital, Nadal has extended his head-to-head advantage over the Swiss to 5-1. After downing Federer in a four-hour tussle in Monte Carlo last month with his own brand of skill and aggression, the 19-year-old went on to save two match points before thwarting the Swiss tactician in a five-hour marathon in Rome.
While others might have felt battered and bruised by the encounters, Federer was not about to roll over. “I enjoyed the battles against him, it sort of answered a lot of questions I was asking myself prior to the claycourt season,” said Federer, who has a 7-0 record in grand slam finals.
With five of his 37 titles coming on clay, Federer knows he has the all-court game to succeed in Paris. “I always knew I can play well on clay, I grew up on this surface,” he said.
Should he reach the final he has only one objective: “Play well, it’s as simple as that.”
For more French Open betting odds, drop by Bodog and see which player will be a sure bet in the 2006 French Open Tennis at Roland Garros.
French Open Preview: It’s clay court tennis man. Nobody beats Rafael Nadal on Clay. Not even Roger Federer can slow or stop Nadal.
