Roger Federer, coming off a gallant runner-up finish to Novak Djokovic at the Rome Masters, arrived in Paris in hope of adding an elusive 18th Grand Slam title to his collection and further setting a new standard in tennis.
Federer will begin his campaign on the red dirt of Roland Garros next week, becoming the first 33-year-old player since American tennis legend Andre Agassi to be seeded as high as no.2 in the second Grand Slam tournament of the calendar.
Durability has been one of the strongest assets Federer has over the years, allowing him to compete in every Grand Slam tournament since the start of the new millennium. At the 2015 French Open, Federer will set a new record with his 62nd Grand Slam appearance - a streak that began all the way back at the 2000 Australian Open. It will also mark his 17th straight appearance at Roland Garros, where he is 61-15 all-time.
The Swiss also holds the record for all-time Grand Slam match win with 281, while his contemporaries Rafael Nadal (191) and Novak Djokovic (187) take the no.7 and no.8 spot respectively in the list.
It has been seven years since Federer hoisted Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy. Although he has made solid strides the past few seasons, the Swiss Maestro found the harsh reality that it's near impossible to upend the King of Clay on his favorite turf.
Defeating Nadal at Roland Garros had been one of tennis' greatest puzzles. But that's not the case anymore, because Mallorcan Bull showed that he can be beaten in many ways throughout the clay-court season.
While Novak Djokovic has made an incredible feat by winning four of the first five ATP Masters of the season, Federer believes he has a better chance of triumphing again at Roland Garros now than ever, as he thinks beating Djokovic isn't as complicated as upsetting Nadal. And despite absorbing a clinical defeat at the hands of the Serb in Rome, the Swiss Master is confident he can pull it off this year.