Rafael Nadal’s dominance at Roland Garros will ensure he goes into this season’s French Open as the stand alone favourite to once again lift the trophy as champion. The five-time winner will once again be looking to defend the title he won last year, but the chasing pack will all fancy their chances of possibly springing a surprise.
Nadal has struggled with injuries more and more over the past couple of season and this year has seen the Spaniard again showing signs of fatigue and niggling injuries even at this relatively early stage. Between now and the start of the French Open in May, Nadal will need to manage his fitness carefully to ensure he heads to Roland Garros in the best possible condition and if he doesn’t the French Open odds suggest there are plenty of people waiting to step in.
It would still be a brave move to write off Nadal, but second favourite Roger Federer won’t be the only one looking to mount a challenge in the second Grand Slam of the year. Novak Djokovic, Robin Soderling and Nicolas Almagro will all be decent bets to reach the latter stages of the tournament after good starts to their seasons.
Federer will have a big point to prove after failing to reach a final in his last four Grand Slams and plenty will be backing the Swiss star to take advantage should Nadal not be on the top of his game. That will be a big if though. Not since Bjorn Bjorg has a player dominated this tournament in the way Nadal has, and the Spaniard will be aware that another title here will take him level with the Swedish legend on six.
