Tennis-Rivals say Federer still a formidable opponent

By Julien Pretot

MONTE CARLO, April 13 (Reuters) - Roger Federer may have lost the tag of world number one but he is still a formidable opponent, several top players said on Monday.

The usually-composed Federer, who has yet to win a tournament in 2009, broke down in tears after losing the Australian Open final to the top-ranked Rafael Nadal in January and smashed one of his rackets in this month's Miami Masters.

"I found it strange he broke his racket in Miami, he who always keeps calm," world number three Novak Djokovic told reporters at the Monte Carlo Masters. "But these things happen when you are frustrated on the court.

"Federer won everything for four years and now he starts losing against some players but you cannot say he is in crisis."

Nadal said the Swiss, who starts his Monte Carlo campaign with a second-round match against Italian Andreas Seppi on Wednesday, had performed well this year.

"He has played a grand slam final and two Masters Series semi-finals, these are very good results," said the Spaniard.

"Everybody talks about the racket he smashed in Miami but that's nothing. It happens to everyone.

"He just needs a title to confirm his good start to the season."