Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 09 June 2007 /

Roger Federer, trading at 3 to triumph over Spain's clay-court specialist and defending champion, Rafael Nadal, in Betfair's Match Odds market, has admitted he would rather have faced Novak Djokovic in the French Open final.

Swiss star Federer heads into the final in Paris hoping he can emulate his Hamburg Masters final win over Nadal last month, ending the Spanish ace's record unbeaten run on the surface of 81 matches.

But he knows conditions at the German event are very different to those at Roland Garros and, in act of gamesmanship, has admitted he would rather have faced semi-finalist Djokovic, who Nadal swept aside 7-5 6-4 6-2.

Federer goes into the final hoping to become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four major titles at once but faces the ultimate test in hat-trick chaser Nadal, who is the overwhelming 1.48 favourite in Betfair's Match Odds market.

"He has already won the title twice, so I'd say he's the favourite," said 25-year-old Federer.
"He's also won 81 matches in a row and is number one on clay this year.

"The only difference is that I know now that I have defeated Rafa on clay in Hamburg, so maybe that will help me get on the right tracks.
"But I would have preferred Djokovic (in the final), to be honest."
The two went head-to-head in the 2006 French Open final and Federer raced into a 6-1 first-set lead - only to lose the next three sets as Nadal staged an astonishing fightback.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>