Roger Federer says that, whatever the form book or the doubters say, Rafael Nadal is his favourite to win the French Open, which starts on Sunday week.
If he was indulging in locker-room mind games – with a view, perhaps, to gingering up the world No1 Novak Djokovic, whom most odds-makers have installed as the favourite at Roland Garros – he disguised it like one of his better drop-shots.
Coming to terms with his own slightly diminished powers at 33, Federer appreciates that Nadal, who has won the French title nine times, has hit a few poor patches this summer, even on his favoured clay.