Nadal backed to seal French Open hat-trick

Roger Federer's chances of claiming his maiden French Open crown on Sunday have been rubbished by Wayne Ferreira.

The feisty South African believes Rafael Nadal remains a cut above the world number one on clay and is backing the Spaniard to match Bjorn Borg's feat of winning a hat-trick of titles at Roland Garros.

Ferrerira said: "Until Rafa either falls over, gets injured or quits, Roger Federer is not going to win the French Open.

"He (Federer) has become too negative on clay. He doesn't serve and volley enough. He needs to come in more against these guys.

"He has taken a step back rather than forward, whereas Rafael has improved his game more."

And former Wimbledon winner Michael Stich is backing Nadal to mount another serious challenge to Federer's dominance at the All England Club.

German Stich said: "I think Rafa will win Wimbledon before Roger wins the French because he is improving his game so intensively on other surfaces.

"Roger needs the weather to be hot to win the French, and he needs to play his own game. He needs to improve his clay-court game still.

"The good thing about Rafa is that he is eager to learn. He plays doubles now as well. I think the greatest player will be the man who wins most on all surfaces."

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