PARIS - World No 1 Roger Federer, a four-times grand slam champion, believes this will be the year when he can finally win the French Open for the first time.
"I'm confident I can do it," the Swiss said yesterday. "If I win the French, I've got them all."
Federerhas never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Paris, where he has lost in the first round in two of the last three years. But he has the perfect game to shine on clay, as he proved by winning in Hamburg last week without dropping a set.
And he is slightly irritated by suggestions he has a French Open problem. "I won three grand slam titles last year - you can't expect to win them all right away. You have to be a little patient."
Federer can expect a strong challenge at Roland Garros from Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal, who is trying to become the first man to win the French Open on debut since Swede Mats Wilander in 1982. Nadal, who turns 19 next week, has emerged as a genuine favourite by winning five claycourt titles this season.
He has impressed former world No 1 Andre Agassi, the 1999 French Open champion. "His shots really look big, he moves great, has a real versatile forehand and seems to have one of the best competitive spirits that you'll see in sports," Agassi said.
Maria Sharapova, the Wimbledon champion, could win both a second grand slam crown and the world No 1 spot. A strong run in Paris, where she was a quarter-finalist last year, could see the 18-year-old become the first Russian woman to hold the top ranking.
"Being more experienced and physically stronger makes me feel I'll last two weeks," she said.
One of Shaparova's toughest rivals is likely to be Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, the 2003 champion, who has impressed since returning to action in April after fighting a viral illness.
