Roger Federer Atp Estoril Odds Federer Opens As A Big Favorite

Roger Federer is playing in the ATP Estoril event for singles this week after he crashed out of the Rome Masters early last week.  Federer is the clear favorite to win the clay court event as it is a 250 level tournament (two notches below the Masters Series events).

It is rare for a number 1 player to contest a tour event of such low magnitude as usually 250 level tournaments have a top seeded player who is ranked near 20th on tour.  Hopefully the final features Federer versus Gael Monfils who is seeded third and in the bottom half of the draw.

Monfils is a respected clay court player who made the French Open semifinals in 2008 and the quarterfinals in 2009 (l. to Federer in both matches).  If Federer can beat Monfils in a possible final then it could offer his fans, Federer’s, a small degree of re-assurance that he is capable of making of deep run in Roland Garros again.  However, even if Federer wins every match in straight sets in Estoril little insight about his clay court form will be offered: with no serious threat to win the 2010 French Open in the field besides Federer, this tournament result should not affect the futures market drastically for the quickly approaching Grand Slam (unless Federer loses).