What’s the story?
Roger Federer, who this year won his record-extending 18th Grand Slam at the Australian Open, announced earlier this week that he would miss the clay-court season in order to focus on grass and hard courts. His arch-rival and close friend, Rafael Nadal, who is yet to lose on clay this year, said he fully supported Federer’s decision.
“He likely took this decision before, and is announcing now,” Nadal said at a press conference ahead of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia or the Italian Open, the final clay court event before the French Open.
"But thinking in a logical way,” Nadal went on, “it would be strange if you don't play on clay in one event and then you start on the biggest one, playing best of five."
In Case You Didn’t Know
Federer dominated the early part of the season, sweeping not only the Australian Open but the Indian-Wells Miami combination of titles, also known as the Sunshine Double. The Swiss ace, most at ease on the grass, returned to tennis after a 6-month hiatus post Wimbledon last year; he made the semi-finals before losing out to Milos Raonic.
Now, in the form of his life, fit and free of injury, Federer has chosen to focus on hard courts – and grass, the latter of which is starkly his favourite surface, with a record seven Wimbledon trophies in addition to several grass-court titles.
Never particularly fond of clay, Federer has nevertheless won the French Open – but only once, in 2009.
Heart of the Matter
The Swiss ace has not played a single clay-court tournament this year, and that alone made it unlikely he would be part of the French Open draw. Given he is conserving energy and body stress for the grass swing – his favourite, which will follow immediately after the clay swing ends, and his form could well mean he wins another Wimbledon title, Federer’s move has likely been thought out since before his January return.
That decision to rest – especially considering that at 35 and having played for over two decades, Federer is not the youngest of the tennis-playing crop and will for a number of reasons have a far more prolonged recovery, is a wise one. It is this call that Nadal acknowledged, but one that also means fans will have to wait until the grass season begins for the two to face off again.
Author’s Take
Given the number of records Federer holds on grass courts (independent of his pan-tennis records) and his form this year, it makes sense that he would want to focus on that surface. Despite recurrent injuries and fatigue last year, Federer still managed to reach the semi-finals – and put up a solid fight before his eventual loss to Canadian ace Milos Raonic.
Federer has always benefitted both physically and mentally from taking breaks, and like his extended period of rest last year, this break too should be useful in rejuvenating Federer both physically and mentally – and could well lead to a 19th Grand Slam!
What’s Next?
Rafael Nadal has gone without a loss on clay so far, sweeping his 10th title at the Monte Carlo Masters, then a 10th at the Barcelona Open, a fifth at the Madrid Masters, and will go for an eighth at the Italian Open.
But the big clincher – not that we need one to establish he is clay GOAT – will be his 10th title, if it happens, at the French Open. Nadal holds the record there for the most titles with nine, and with two other ‘La Decima’ milestones out of the way, his mind and body in perfect sync and with him at his optimal levels of fitness, there is no reason that Nadal will not reach that milestone.
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