Roger Federer - French Open Men's Tennis Players

Although Federer has had an unenviable start to the 2008 season he is still well ahead on the ATP ranking table and remains the unequivocal maestro of the tennis courts. Statistics show that clay is not his favoured surface but he has still outperformed the majority of combatants to reach the finals at Roland Garros twice in his career.

The French Open is the one and only grand slam title that he does not own, and believe me, he will be busting a gut to try and rectify the situation in Paris this summer. What we do know about Roger Federer is that he is a tenacious fighter, and an elegant one at that, so short of an injury or illness, Federer will surely be back on the Court Philippe Chatrier to claim the big one that continues to elude him.

Federer's opportunity of claiming a calendar year grand slam was denied on the steamy courts of Melbourne at the start of the season - he was soundly beaten by one of the rising stars of international tennis, Novak Djokovic, at the Australian Open, and since then has been battling with his form and health.

Federer has recently been diagnosed with glandular fever which may well explain why he has not been at his booming best. Symptoms include muscle weakness and mental fatigue which were both in evidence at the Australian Open where he looked remarkably tired and lacklustre. His results since then indicate that he could well be struggling with the affects of the disease, although he has been given medical clearance to play at the highest level. It will only be a matter of time before the Swiss precision machine is back to playing the brand of tennis that we all know, love and admire.

Roger Federer will be remembered as a true genius of the game and he is already in great company in the record books.

• He has matched the great Roy Emerson's career grand slam title record with a round dozen and is just two adrift of the legendary Pistol Pete Sampras - his friend and inspiration.
• He is the only man in the open era to have won three out of four tennis majors three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2007 - only the clay of Roland Garros has been denied him.
• He has won the Wimbledon Championships five consecutive times, equalling Bjorn Borg's record set in 1980
• He has won the US Open four years in a row, only Richard Sears in the late 1800's has managed this tremendous feat.
• He has been at the top of the ATP rankings since February 2004

Roger Federer, French Open Men's Tennis Player, is the inveterate performer and will, without a doubt, have the crowds in Paris baying for more and his opponents praying for an upset!