French Open Day 8: Flawless Federer in no mood to bow out
Published:
It’s fourth-round day at the French Open on Sunday and that means plenty of big names will be on show at Roland Garros, including the only man to have lifted the title, other than Rafael Nadal, in the last 10 editions.
That man of course, is Roger Federer. The Swiss maestro continues to defy his 33 years and although he is faced with home favourite Gael Monfils, Federer is still tipped to reach the quarter finals.
Monfils is a thorny customer on any surface but particular on clay, and especially at his home-town Grand Slam.
This was never more evident than when beating Federer in a close-fought match at Monte Carlo on clay just last month.
However, as Federer’s 4/11 odds to progress suggest, arguably the greatest player of all time is enjoying a sparkling return to form this season, where he has already picked up the Istanbul title on clay and also reached the final in Rome.
Having attained number world number two status as a result, Federer has justified his second seeding with some faultless tennis in the first three rounds at Roland Garros, where he’s yet to drop a set.
Monfils, in contrast, has been taken the distance in both his previous matches in Paris so starts as 9/4 underdog against a man who owns an 8-4 head-to-head advantage in career meetings – which crucially include three defeats at the French Open.
Across those that trio of Roland Garros clashes (2011, 2009 and 2008), Federer has only dropped a single set and 3-0 in the Swiss man’s favour looks the bet here at 7/4.
Guile over power will be the key to victory here.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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