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Does Federer have the form and fitness to beat the odds and win the French Open?

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Barry Millns takes a look at the world number one's performances on clay this season to see if he is worth betting on for glory at Roland Garros.

On the day when Rafael Nadal stepped back so impressively onto clay in Monte Carlo, trading at [1.56] to retain his title, Roger Federer's [8.6] troubles in only just avoiding defeat by the Spanish No.17 Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo would suggest Jose Higueras has his work cut out if he is to help the Swiss win that elusive French Open.

Twice a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in the early 80's before guiding Michael Chang and Jim Courier to titles there, Higueras certainly has the credentials of one of the most astute clay court coaches around. But while Federer's title-win last week in Estoril was a positive start to their working relationship it may have only papered over the cracks.

The first four opponents Federer faced in the Portuguese event were all ranked way outside the Top 50, two of them took Federer the distance and if Nikolay Davydenko had not hurt himself in the final even the Russian might have beaten the world No.1 for the first time. Three days later in Monte Carlo Federer breezed through the first set against Ramirez Hidalgo, but having done so he then went into a worrying decline that underlined the questions marks which remain against his form and fitness.

"I felt a little bit slow out there today," admitted Federer. "I was just hoping for a better spell where I wasn't making maybe so many mistakes."

Fifty-five unforced errors certainly contributed to his problems and his forehand in particular, which had fired well in the first set, went badly awry thereafter until the last few games. That is not the first time it has happened, especially in recent months, but Federer's loss of focus and a look of boredom with the proceedings would suggest that those are the biggest issues Higueras must address if they are to continue on successfully through this campaign.

Federer has insisted for a while now that he is over the bout of mononucleosis which struck him at the start of the year. But while the medics have told him the virus has have left his body, it may well be having a lingering effect on his game as the following anonymous entry on a recent message board suggests:

"I happen to be a physician, and I am persuaded that Federer's loss of form is primarily due to Mono. This disease is associated with subtle effects that can last as long as a year. The effects can include depression and reduced energy levels. In many patients these effects inevitably produce some loss of motivation and confidence. For an illness to produce depression, there must be an effect on the central nervous system, which could produce a very slight slowing of reaction times and even a very slight effect on co-ordination.

"Bottom line: I believe that the subtle long term effects of Mono are enough to account for Fed seeming to lose his edge. After all, tennis at this level is a game where results are often determined by a few shots missing by an inch or two. I hope I'm wrong, but Fed could remain below top form for several more months before he finally is rid of the effects of the Mono."

Federer is also a victim of his own success because having achieved so much and set the bar so high, constantly finding the motivation to keep on doing it is becoming the biggest challenge of all. Someone who truly understands that and who also sought out Higueras' advice to try and help him conquer the French Open is Pete Sampras.

The American was over 30 when he did so in 2002 and by then it was clearly too late in the day as he crashed out of Roland Garros in the first round. Having now forged a good friendship with Federer this is Sampras' take on the situation facing the Swiss.

"He has the game to do it," said Sampras. "He grew up playing on clay and he's more prominent on clay than I ever was. Things need to fall into place for him. Once he hits 29 or 30 the Djokovics and Nadals will be in their prime and it'll become a little tougher."

It's looking very tough now.