Commenting on the draw for the upcoming French Open, Roger Federer either paid tribute to Rafael Nadal or discounted Novak Djokovic. Or both.
Nadal, the nine-time French Open champion who now is ranked No. 7 in the world and seeded No. 6 entering the major at Roland Garros that starts this weekend, faces a potential quarterfinals matchup against French Open favorite and No. 1 Djokovic.
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Rafa has won five consecutive French Opens and has a 66-1 record all time on the clay event - the surface of which he is considered king. Nadal, however, also has lost five matches this year on clay - the most since his rookie season on the tour 11 years ago.
Djokovic took out Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April, and the paths of the two have continued going in opposite directions. Nadal is 25-9 in 2015, Djokovic 35-2.
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Djokovic is searching to complete his career Grand Slam with a title at the French Open; Nadal is just looking to get his confidence back.
Which brings Roger Federer into the conversation. Tennis.com asked about the possible quarterfinals matchup between the titans Djokovic and Nadal, and the world's No. 2 player was more than gracious to Nadal, his longtime rival
At the expense of his current biggest rival.
"The rankings reflect what happened the last 12 months," Federer said to Tennis.com. "Of course if Rafa wouldn't have been injured, from Wimbledon last year or French Open last year-I don't remember when he played his last, but-you know, he would be very close to the Top 4. If not in the Top 4, maybe No. 1 or 2 in the world. Who knows? So from that standpoint I see the argument [about adjusting Nadal's seeding], but at the same time I think it was going to be worse for somebody else other than Rafa. I don't think it was going to be bad for Rafa because he's looking at defending his title whoever he has to play through.
"It's going to affect Novak more in my opinion in that regard than Rafa really."
The world could find out whether Federer is correct in less than two weeks.
Do you think Novak Djokovic will feel more pressure on him than Rafael Nadal will feel if the two meet in the quarterfinals of the French Open? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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