Roger Federer believes a wave of sympathy from a traditionally fickle Paris crowd can finally carry him to French Open victory.

The world number one has won a legion of admirers at Roland Garros in the last three years just as much for his valiant, but thwarted attempts to win the title and complete the fabled Grand Slam, as he has for his on-court powers.

Now the world number one hopes to turn the support to his advantage as he targets next Sunday’s final and another likely match-up with double defending champion Rafael Nadal, who ended his French Open hopes in 2005 and 2006.

Federer, helped by his ability to speak the language, has been adopted as a native son by a local crowd in despair at seeing all of their own players knocked out of the tournament in the first week.

“It started when I played the first semifinal against Nadal (2005). At the end of the match, people chanted my name and I was really moved because it was late and I had a break in the fourth set,” said Federer.

“All of a sudden I felt that the public was with me and I was a little bit surprised.”

Federer, who made the last eight on Sunday with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, also came up short against Nadal in last year’s final despite winning the first set.

The sympathy for him grew as once again an elusive French Open title went slipping by.

“I think this year the crowd would like me to win because I’ve been trying hard. I also speak French so the fans are with me and I enjoy it.”

Buoyed
Federer faces Tommy Robredo in his quarterfinal on Tuesday buoyed by having defeated the Spanish ninth seed seven times in seven meetings including the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in January.

The world number one has also comfortably seen off Robredo on the only two occasions they’ve played on clay while the Spaniard has managed to take just one set off the Swiss over their five-year rivalry.

With that record of dominance, it would be tempting for Federer to look further ahead to the semifinals and even the final where once again Nadal, who has never lost at Roland Garros, is expected to be waiting.
But he will not be distracted.

“Winning Roland Garros doesn’t boil down to beating Nadal. It’s totally different,” said the top seed who is bidding to become only the third man in history to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.