Roger Federer: Loss to Novak Djokovic Proves Fed Won't Win French Open

Roger Federer has been playing great, but he has no shot at winning the 2012 French Open. That much became clear when world No. 1 Novak Djokovic easily dispatched him 6-2, 7-6 in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 in Rome.

Federer was terrible in the first set of this match. His serve was not nearly as deadly as it has been. He was broken twice, and was down a set before he even realized it. 

In terms of measuring his chances for the French Open, that set can be written off; it is an aberration. Fed has been serving wonderfully all year, and he just didn't have it in the first set. There is no reason to think he is going to go back to struggling with his serve; his struggles didn't even last the whole match. 

Federer came out strong in the second, and gave Djokovic all he could handle before falling 7-6. Both players had a break in that set. 

That decisive second set is the one that tells us Federer is doomed at the French. 

Why Fed-Ex Won't Win His Second French Open

Federer won the event prior to this one, the Madrid Open. That was a clay court title, and it filled Club Fed with hope that Roger's resurgence would be enough to win him another French Open title. 

However, that tournament was on the odd blue clay, which by all accounts was far more slippery than the traditional red. 

Fed handled the tricky surface like the great and classy champion he is. That should not be discounted, but it also shouldn't play a factor how he will fare in the French. 

Federer was not forced to face Djokovic or Nadal in that tournament, and it is hard to imagine a path to the French for Federer where he did not have to go through at least one of those guys. 

Even at his best, Federer cannot handle Nadal on clay, but there were plenty of reasons to think he would be able to handle Djokovic, and that is what makes their second match so disheartening. 

Federer played great in that second set, and he still couldn't get the job done, and he won't be able to get it done at the French either.