Men's world number one Roger Federer has probably got just three years if he is to finally land the French Open according to former world number one Pete Sampras.
The 26-year-old Swiss has reached the last two finals only to lose to Rafael Nadal but according to Sampras, who never won the French Open despite winning 14 other Grand Slam titles, he believes that Federer can finally secure the one Grand Slam crown to elude him.
"He has just two or three years to realise his dream," Sampras told the Sunday Telegraph. "He has the game to do it. He grew up playing on clay and he's more prominent on clay than I ever was. "Things need to fall into place for him.
"Once he hits 29 or 30 the Djokovics and Nadals will be in their prime and it'll become a little tougher," added Sampras, whose best showing at Rolland Garros in 13 attempts was the semi-finals in 1996.
Sampras, 36, also rejected notions that because Federer had failed to win a tournament this year that his aura of invincibility had disappeared. "He's created this monster of winning so many tournaments and so many majors and doing it with ease," said Sampras. "He hasn't lost his edge. "He's lost a couple of matches and, if anything, that'll do him good. "It'll get him going and fired up." Federer is playing the Estoril final on Sunday and then goes to the Monte Carlo Masters series event.
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