Switzerland's 17-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer said on Monday that he still believed Rafael Nadal was the favourite to win the French Open next month despite the Spanish star's troubled start to the clay court season.
Federer, who took his sole French Open title in 2009, this week is refining his own clay court game at the Istanbul Open, the first ATP World Tour event to be held in Turkey and the first time that Federer has visited the country.
But Nadal, who with the exception of Federer's win has taken every French Open since 2005 to make nine in total, has shown a dip in form over the past weeks, failing to get past the third round at last week's Barcelona Open.
Roger Federer still fears 'difficult to beat' Rafael Nadal at French Open - IBNLive
Federer, who took his sole French Open title in 2009, this week is refining his own clay court game at the Istanbul Open, the first ATP World Tour event to be held in Turkey and the first time that Federer has visited the country.
But Nadal, who with the exception of Federer's win has taken every French Open since 2005 to make nine in total, has shown a dip in form over the past weeks, failing to get past the third round at last week's Barcelona Open.
Roger Federer still fears 'difficult to beat' Rafael Nadal at French Open - IBNLive
