Federer makes perfect start

Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 29 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Top seed Roger Federer described his eventual 6-4 6-2 6-4 first-round win over Michael Russell at the French Open as the "perfect start".

The Swiss star had led 6-4 4-1 on Monday before rain brought an end to play but he was quickly into his rhythm when the game resumed and wrapped up the second set with two quick service games.

The third set was a tighter affair; with world number 68 Russell holding his first two service games before Federer secured the final break he needed in the fifth game to move 3-2 ahead.

Federer, who is bidding for his first title success at Roland Garros and is available at 3.2 in Betfair's outright winner market, then held serve three times to claim victory and will now face Frenchman Thierry Ascione, who beat Croatian teenager Marin Cilic in straight sets.

"That was the prefect start for me, as it was difficult stretching over two days and I had never played against him before," Federer said.

World number one Federer was beaten 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6(4) by clay-court specialist Rafael Nadal in the 2006 French Open final and is certain to come in for support as he bids to become only the sixth man in history to win all four Grand Slam titles - emulating Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Andre Agassi.

Nadal is chasing his third successive crown in Paris and is the predictable 1.87 favourite to triumph again.

Nadal and Federer are trading at 1.31 and 1.64 respectively in Betfair's To Reach The Final, while Chile's Fernando Gonzalez - a quarter-finalist in France in 2003 - is available as the 6.4 favourite in the Winner w/o Federer and Nadal market.