French Open: Guy Forget is looking forward to Roger Federer
Roger Federer is expected to start again at the French Open after the end of May after a three-year absence. This not only lifts the mood among the fans.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 30, 2019, 11:39 am
Guy Forget, in his capacity as tournament director of the French Open, has done a real marathon of press conferences in recent years. Most of the time, the topic revolved around the renovation work at the Stade Roland Garros, in 2016, for example, the circumstances surrounding Rafael Nadal's withdrawal due to an injury had to be clarified. Forget doesn't like talking about individual players, after all, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year is larger than the sum of its individual participants.
Nevertheless: That Roger Federer hadn't opened at Bois de Boulogne since 2015 was not in Forget's interest. Twice the maestro had voluntarily decided not to start at the French Open, and once Federer forced his knee injury to cancel. Now there are increasing signs that the 20-time major winner will make his comeback at the French Open in a few months.
"As if a pianist didn't play regularly"
Guy Forget can do a lot with this project. "I'm not surprised," he told the L'Equipe. "What is a player looking for? Confidence. And believe me, Roger's victories don't matter. Tennis is such a nice sport, but often also sensitive. It's like a pianist doesn't play regularly. He loses his routine, sometimes he thinks too much. "
Federer's memories of playing on ashes may indeed have rusted a bit, but not his movements. At least after the impressions of Guy Forget. “When I watch Roger, he still seems very fast to me, not slower than before. And I feel that he still has this greed for victories. "
Roger Federer won the title in Paris, in the final against Robin Söderling in 2009. Between 2006 and 2011 the Swiss was in the final four more times, losing to Rafael Nadal. Federer had formulated his plan to take some tournaments during the clay court season as part of the Australian Open.