Federer puts his trust in coach
PARIS -- If Roger Federer was looking for a coach with intimate knowledge of Roland Garros, he certainly found his man in Jose Higueras.
Federer conducted his post-draw French Open news conference Friday, busy dismissing the notion he's having an average season and refusing to look toward yet another final against Rafael Nadal. And Higueras? Done putting Federer through his paces for the day, he was holding court in a hallway near the main locker rooms.
He got a tap on the shoulder from Nadal, Federer's nemesis and the three-time reigning champion at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. "Rafaelito!" Higueras called out as his countryman sauntered past.
Higueras coached Michael Chang to the 1989 French Open title, then guided Jim Courier to the 1991 and 1992 trophies. If Higueras thinks he can help Federer finally add the Coupe des Mousquetaires to his collection, he wasn't saying.
Indeed, Higueras didn't want to answer questions about Federer. So it was left to the player to explain how he might benefit from a coach he's worked with only on-and-off since mid-April.
"A guy seeing it from a different angle. Somebody you can discuss and talk about tactics and certain things," said Federer, who plays 41st-ranked Sam Querrey of the United States in the first round Tuesday.
If anyone speaks more glowingly of Federer's chances than Federer himself, it's Nadal. He's always quick to point out who is No. 1 and who is No. 2.
On Friday, Nadal called Federer "one of the best clay-court players." Nadal noted that Federer has played in "three finals in Monte Carlo, two finals in Rome, two more finals here, one more semifinal here." What the Spaniard neglected to mention is that seven of those eight matches were played against Nadal, and Federer's record in those encounters is 0-7.
As for Higueras, Nadal wondered how much Federer's game might have changed in such short time.
"If I have a new coach, it's impossible to change my game in three weeks," said Nadal, whose first-round opponent is qualifier Thomaz Bellucci, a 20-year-old Brazilian making his Grand Slam debut.
While Federer hopes to become the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam, Nadal wants to become only the second in history to win four consecutive French Opens.
Remember: Nadal is 21-0 at this tournament. He's also won 108 of his past 110 matches on clay overall. Then again, one of those losses came against Federer.
"All I need to know is that I know I can beat him," Federer said. "We're six matches away, again, from each other. My focus is not on Rafa yet."