Federer Confident on his French Open Chances

Some critics say Federer can't win at the French Open. But
the world no.1 scoffs at such jibes, downplaying them saying that
he's just as good as anybody who have had played at Rolland Garros.
He quipped, "I don't think I need luck. I am good good enough
on clay. I grew up on clay and it's something that comes very
naturally to me." However, he admits that Nadal is his main
rival, not only on clay, but on other circuits as well.

Federer was runners up at French Open in 2006 & 2007,
where he lost to eventual winner Rafael Nadal.

Flu Downs Djokovic; Russia Marches On

Novak Djokovic, who had flu symptoms since last week, eventually
succumbed to the virus as he withdrew midway through his Davis Cup
draw against Nikolay Davydenko, a match he was leading two sets to one,
when he decided that he can't carry forward anymore.

"I stopped because I didn't want to risk my health," the Aussie Open
champion told the press after the walkover.

The gifted match gave Russia an unassailable 3-1 lead, in the first
round tie in Moscow. Later same day, Viktor Troicki beat Dmitry Tursunov
in straight sets to reduce the margin to 3-2 in Serbia's favor.

Russia are the current Davis Cup runners up.

Sania Mirza Pulls out of Bangalore Open

Leg injury prevented her from representing India in the Federation Cup.
Now, even though her injury expected to heal in time, Sania had decided
to give Bangalore open, scheduled to be held in March, a skip. It'll be the
first time she will not be seen in a WTA tournament organized in India.

Asked about her abrupt decision not to play in Bangalore Open, Asia's
top ranked female tennis star said 'I have been advised by my managers
not to play because I think a lot has been happening in the last few
months and every time that I had played in India, there had been some
kind of a problem. So, we just thought that it was better not to play this time'.

She's expected to return to professional tennis after three weeks more rest.

Fedex Derailed..Does it Indicate the Onset of Changing Times in Men's Tennis?

Fedex, for the first time since 2005 French Open, had failed
to reach the finals of a grand slam tournament. Can we read
it as the beginning of the end of Federer's dominance in world
tennis? Or is it just an aberration..a one off incident?

Well, I would say, it is a a bit of both... even Sampras in his
heydays had not won more than two grand slams a year
at any time and he still managed to be world no.1 for many years.
Federer might lose few matches here and there to younger
opponents, but it is too early to write off his genius as a player.
It is no simple task to win 12 grand slams in the space of 4-5 years.

Even Sampras took a decade or more to amass his record 14 grand
slam titles. Federer in most probability will retain Wimbledon this
year...and who knows, might lay his hands over US Open as well
to equal Sampras' record. In French Open, however, Nadal is the
favorite and none seems to challenge his prowess on clay at present.

ATP 2008 season has only begun, but had offered more than
anticipated in the first few weeks... Let's wait and see how
the year unfolds in the coming months...