Roger Federer Sets Tone for 2013 French Open with Emphatic Victory

Roger Federer showed that he’s serious about winning the 2013 French Open after systematically destroying Pablo Carreno-Busta in the first round, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

It wasn’t close, as Fed decimated his Spanish opponent on the serve—racking up 10 aces and putting 68 percent of his serves into play.

The Swiss superstar went seven-for-seven on break points and also proved that he could return as well as he could send them over the net.

Carreno-Busta is no slouch either, as the 21-year-old has recorded 56 victories, seven titles at the Futures level and rapidly ascended up to No. 164 in the world rankings during the 2013 season.

However, the youngster was no match for the great Federer at Roland Garros. If the 17-time Grand Slam winner continues to play like this, it’s unlikely he will be challenged by anyone until the final round.

As the No. 2 seed in the event, Fed was quite lucky in the draw. He has managed to avoid a potential clash with both No. 1-seeded Novak Djokovic and No. 3-seeded favorite Rafael Nadal until the championship—assuming he gets there.

Federer also shook off a potential semifinals showdown with Andy Murray, the British phenom who wasn’t fit enough to participate in Paris. David Ferrer—a worthy opponent but an extremely beatable one—was awarded the No. 4 seeding in Murray’s stead.

Given that the Swiss is 14-0 lifetime (5-0 on clay) against Ferrer, coupled with his dominant showing on Sunday against Carreno-Busta, most now see it as a foregone conclusion that Fed will make the finals.

Unfortunately, that could be the end of the line for the 31-year-old, as he’s only recorded a single victory at Roland Garros in his long and illustrious career.

That win came back in 2009, when Federer eliminated Robin Soderling on Championship Sunday—the only man to ever beat Nadal on the red clay in the French Open.

With Nadal seemingly healthy enough to make a run and the Djoker still on top of the tennis world, the likely semifinal matchup on their side of the bracket could be seen as a de facto championship.

It’ll take a superhuman effort from Fed to beat either one, but it’s certainly not advisable to discount him just yet.

If the superstar continues to play as well as he did to open the French Open and faces an exhausted, battered Nole or Rafa, he may just claim his second career victory on Court Philippe Chatrier.