French Open: Guy Forget gives Roger Federer a chance to win in Paris

Guy Forget, Tournament Director of the French Open, believes Roger Federer can make a big coup for the next edition of Roland Garros. After he announced on Tuesday that the prize money at this year’s world’s biggest sand court tournament had increased significantly again, the Frenchman commented on Federer’s chances of winning a second major title in Paris.

“I think he gave us the impression that he is completely fit,” Forget told RMC Sport, “so he is definitely able to reach the French Open final and even win it.

Federer has still not decided whether he will play the clay court season in general. Last year, after his triumph at the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami, he took a break to better prepare for the grass courts.

“We’ll accept any decision,” said Forget, referring to Federer’s tournament schedule, “I think it would be the first time a world number one would give up competing in a Grand Slam without being hurt”.

Rafael Nadal is again the favourite for the French Open title after his tenth triumph last year, but “Roger has already beaten him. When you see how he has developed on the court, you have to say that he is playing as good as two years ago.”

In 2009 Federer secured his only title with Roland Garros so far in Paris. In that year, Nadal surprisingly failed in the round of 16 due to Sweden’s Robin Söderling, who has since stepped down.

Forget himself was tournament director at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris-Bercy from 2012 to 2015 before being nominated by the French Tennis Federation as director of the French Open in 2016. The two-time Davis Cup winner (1991, 1996) was captain of the French team between 1999 and 2012 and won the team competition title again in 2001.