Age 40, winning Paris on comeback? No way, says Federer

Geneva: Roger Federer has said he is not playing well enough to have a chance of winning the French Open after the Swiss’ preparations for the claycourt Grand Slam were cut short here yesterday.

The 39-year-old was up 4-2 in the final set against world No. 75 Pablo Andujar of Spain but lost the next four games to lose 6-4 4-6 6-4 in his only tuneup event on clay before the French Open starts on May 30.

It was Federer’s first match since his comeback in Doha in March after sitting out over a year due to two knee surgeries. “I think when you played so little and you know where your level is at, and I think you saw that today, how can I think of winning the French Open?” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said. “I’m just realistic that I know I will not win the French and whoever thought I would or could win it is wrong. Of course, crazier things might have happened, but I’m not so sure in the last 50 years at the French Open, somebody just rocked up at 40-years-old, being out for a year and a half and just go on to just win everything straight.” Reuters