It may sound preposterous to suggest 17-time grand slam winner and world No2 Roger Federer is flying under the radar at Roland Garros, but the reality is Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have enjoyed a far bigger share of attention in the build up to this year’s French Open.
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While Federer continues to be a huge draw everywhere he plays, and arguably has the most dedicated and vocal fans irrespective of the venue he’s playing at, the narrative this fortnight will likely revolve around the results of Djokovic and Nadal – the former looking to break the hoodoo and win a first Roland Garros crown and the latter hoping to snap out of his dip in form and capture a 10th trophy here.
For Federer, who begins his campaign against Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla today on Philippe Chatrier Stadium, not being the hot topic in Paris makes little difference to how he’s approaching the tournament.
The Swiss, who holds the record for the most grand slam match wins in history with 281, has had his fair share of attention all his life – taking a backseat to Djokovic and Nadal is probably a welcome change.
Roger Federer’s potential road to the @rolandgarros final: – Qualifier – Granollers – Karlovic – Monfils – Wawrinka – Berdych/Nishikori
— SI Tennis (@SI_Tennis) May 22, 2015
“It makes no big difference. I prepare for the tournament. I train. I have to talk to the press. So 99 per cent remains the same,” said the 2009 champion.
“It really depends on where you put the focus. Novak gets a lot of attention. He’s trying to win Roland Garros for the first time.
“He’s been playing very, very, well. He’s just been incredibly successful, and I think he really deserves the attention.
“Rafa, what can I say? He’s an incredible player. It took me eight years. Took him nine years, nine victories. It’s normal that he should get so much attention.”
A victory for the 33-year-old Federer here would make him the oldest French Open winner since Andres Gimeno in 1972.
He is looking to claim a second title in Paris and perhaps draw on some positive memories from his past here to do well on the clay of Roland Garros.
“I look back at 2009, winning that, as a motivation and something I love about coming back to Paris for,” said Federer.
“The atmosphere, the crowds, all that, the support I received back then, how nice it’s been ever since.
“I feel like how happy the Parisian crowd is, how happy I am to be back. It’s like, ‘here we meet again.’”.
One player who hasn’t necessarily had the smoothest of relationships with the notoriously-tough Parisian crowd is home star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who opens against Sweden’s Christian Lindell today.
France have not had a home male singles finalist or winner since Yannick Noah’s triumph in 1983 and when Tsonga made a run to the last four in 2013, the French crowd were surprising underwhelmed having spent hours watching a Djokovic-Nadal semi-final earlier.
Things didn’t get much better for Tsonga – in the eyes of the French public – when a nagging wrist injury forced him to pull out of the Davis Cup final against Switzerland in Lille after losing the opening rubber against Stan Wawrinka.
He subsequently played in a series of exhibition matches in Asia – the IPTL – which drew a barrage of criticism.
“Since (the Davis Cup) I have had the time to take a look at what people think of me – in the street when we pass each other,” said Tsonga.
“On the whole, I think they are proud of what I’ve achieved so far. I think it will be the same at Roland Garros.
“I am happy to be playing once again in front of French fans and all the more so because I had had some magic moments here – in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup (against the Czech Republic last year).
“On an individual level, I played a semi-final in 2013. That’s the only time I have managed that in my career. Even if I lost in straight sets to David Ferrer, it remains a great memory.”
Jo-Wilfried #Tsonga: In good shape for the cover @MensHealthFR – but also for @rolandgarros? pic.twitter.com/1VJVxyxiKY
— tennis MAGAZIN (@tennismagazin) May 21, 2015
Also in action today is fifth seed and US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori, whose recent form suggests he is finally ready to cause some damage in Roland Garros.
The 25-year-old won the Barcelona Open last month and is finally getting accustomed to his position amongst the world’s elite.
“I am much more comfortable right now. A year ago I was almost feeling nervous in the top 10, but right now I have been here for one year and now I’m really comfortable,” said the Japanese ace, whose first round opponent is Frenchman Paul Henri-Mathieu.
