Roger Federer himself put it quite simply recently: “How can I think of winning the French Open?”
After all, the 20-time major champion will be entered in his first Grand Slam tournament in more than 15 months when play begins on the red clay of Roland Garros in the leafy southwestern outskirts of Paris on Sunday.
Consider this summary of his circumstances: Federer has accumulated more operations on his right knee (two) than victories (one, in three matches) since February 2020.
“The moment you know you’re not going to win the French Open, it can’t be your goal. At least at my level. So I’m just realistic and I know I will not win the French — and whoever thought I would, or could, win it is wrong,” Federer said. 
“Of course, crazier things might have happened. But I’m not so sure in the last 50 years at the French Open, somebody just walked up at 40 years old, being out for a year and a half, and just (went) on to win everything. … I know my limitations at the moment.”
For the record, he hasn’t quite hit the “Big 4-0” just yet. Still, this will be the last French Open of his 30s — and the last one for Serena Williams in her 30s, too.
He turns 40 in August; she reaches that milestone in September.
The chances for fans to watch them compete, and for other players to try to measure up, are getting rarer (Williams has appeared in just three matches, going 1-2, since a semifinal loss to Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open).
While Federer made clear he sees this trip to France mainly as a way to help him get ready for Wimbledon, Williams acknowledged her lack of play on clay makes things less comfortable as she resumes her bid for a 24th major championship.
“This year has been a little more difficult than normal,” said Williams, who pulled out of last year’s French Open before the second round because of an injured left Achilles. 
Asked how much she considered skipping the red stuff entirely this season, Williams quickly replied: “Not one second.”
Both Williams and Federer carry expectations of excellence every time they step on a court.
Some comes internally, of course, which is why Williams holds the professional era record of 23 Slam singles titles and Federer shares the men’s mark of 20 with Rafael Nadal.
And some comes externally.
That all can be daunting when there is more than the usual amount of uncertainty about the status of one’s game.
