In a tale of contrasting fortunes for two of the world’s biggest tennis stars, 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer has announced that he will be playing at the upcoming Mutua Madrid Open while the women’s World No. 1 Serena Williams had to opt out because of flu.
“Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from Madrid because I’ve been battling the flu and I’m not at 100 percent. I look forward to returning soon,” Williams said in a statement released by the WTA on Friday.
The 34-year-old American is a two-time former champion at Madrid, which is one of the biggest warm-up events before the French Open. She is now expected to return to the Tour at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
In her absence, World No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska has been given the top seeding and she heads a draw that comprises the likes of Stuttgart champion Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka, besides defending champion Petra Kvitova.
Meanwhile, after days of speculation, three-time Madrid Masters champion Federer has finally confirmed his participation on Thursday. The Swiss maestro’s original schedule at the beginning of the season did not have any claycourt tournament apart from the French Open.
But his sudden knee surgery after the Australian Open prompted a rejig of his schedule as the World No. 3 continues to seek full fitness by the time the season’s second Grand Slam arrives. He made his long anticipated comeback after more than two months at the Monte Carlo Masters this April and lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals in three sets.
After the defeat, Federer had been unsure about which tournaments he would be selecting which had cast doubts about the possibility of him playing in the Spanish capital.
Last year, the former World No. 1 had succumbed to rising star Nick Kyrgios in a thrilling three-set second round encounter.
The Mutua Madrid Open is scheduled to start on May 1 which will see all of the world’s top 10 ATP stars vying for the title. World No. 1 and 2011 titlist Novak Djokovic will be making a return to the Caja Magica after a two-year absence.
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