Federer conducted his post-draw French Open news conference on Friday, busy dismissing the notion he's having an average season and refusing to look toward yet another final against Rafael Nadal. And Higueras? Done putting Federer through his paces for the day, he was holding court in a hallway near the main locker rooms.
He got a tap on the shoulder from Nadal, Federer's nemesis and the three-time reigning champion at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. "Rafaelito!'' Higueras called out as his countryman sauntered past.
He traded kisses on each cheek with Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion and runner-up in Paris two years ago. He paused to chat in French with a man who worked tournament security when Higueras reached the semifinals twice in the early 1980s.
"I know everybody here over 60,'' Higueras said.
He coached Michael Chang to the 1989 French Open title, then guided Jim Courier to the 1991 and 1992 trophies. If Higueras thinks he can help Federer finally add the Coupe des Mousquetaires to his collection, he wasn't saying two days before the tournament.
Indeed, Higueras didn't want to answer questions about Federer. So it was left to the player to explain how he might benefit from a coach he's worked with on and off since mid-April.
"A guy seeing it from a different angle. Somebody you can discuss and talk about tactics and certain things,'' said Federer, who plays 41st-ranked Sam Querrey of the United States in the first round on Tuesday. "If he sees something in my technique, that is something that you can then work on in the practice sessions. That is something we haven't had a chance to really look at. If you're down, sure, he can build you up. But I wasn't really down since we started working together.''
Federer insists he hasn't been down much at all, even though this is the first season since 2001 he'll begin the French having won only one title.
"I wish I could have won maybe a tournament here and there a little bit more. But if I keep on winning the next few, I don't really care what happened in the past,'' said the top-ranked Federer, whose 12 major titles put him two from Pete Sampras' career record. "I'm happy with the season so far. You might think it's average. I don't.''
If anyone speaks more glowingly of Federer's chances than Federer himself, it's Nadal. He's always quick to point out who is No. 1 in the rankings and who is No. 2.
On Friday, Nadal called Federer "one of the best clay-court players.'' Nadal noted that Federer has played in "three finals in Monte Carlo, two finals in Rome, two more finals here, one more semifinal here.'' What the Spaniard neglected to mention is that seven of those eight matches were played against Nadal, and Federer's record in those encounters is 0-7.
As for Higueras, Nadal wondered how much Federer's game might have changed in such a short time together.
"If I have a new coach, it's impossible to change my game in three weeks,'' said Nadal, whose first-round opponent is qualifier Thomaz Bellucci, a 20-year-old Brazilian making his Grand Slam debut.
While Federer hopes to become the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam, Nadal wants to become only the second in history to win four consecutive French Opens.
Remember: Nadal is 21-0 at this tournament. He's also won 108 of his past 110 matches on clay overall. Then again, one of those losses came against Federer.
"All I need to know is that I know I can beat him,'' Federer said. "We're six matches away, again, from each other. My focus is not on Rafa yet.''
Nadal could have a more interesting path, including a possible semifinal against No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who upset Federer en route to winning the Australian Open in January.
"I'm coming to this year's French Open as a more mature player,'' Djokovic said. "And considering that fact, I believe much more in myself and that I can win against Rafa on clay, or Roger on any surface.''
ALSO ON THIS STORY Discuss: Sound off on tennis message boards
DALY STILL HARBOURS MAJOR HOPES
Nadal tunes up for French by beating Federer
Collins: French Open is Nadal’s to lose
