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ROGER FEDERER

Nadal to serve notice at Madrid Open

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer appear at the same claycourt event for the first time this season with the Madrid Masters a key test just three weeks out from the French Open.

Nadal to serve notice at Madrid Open
Victory for Spain's Rafa Nadal at the Madrid Open would be perfect preparation for next month's French Open at Roland Garros. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

The tournament returns to  traditional red clay after a controversial experiment with blue clay in 2012.

The surface drew strong criticism from Nadal and Djokovic who threatened not to return to play in the Spanish capital if it wasn't changed.

However, ATP president Brad Drewett outlawed the use of blue clay and so seven-time French Open winner Nadal and world number one Djokovic will return for another potentially fascinating clash.

Djokovic ended Nadal's eight-year reign as champion in Monte Carlo in the last Masters event a fortnight ago with such a devastating display that the Serb is now hotly tipped to become just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam and claim his first French Open title at Roland Garros.

Nadal bounced back to claim an eighth title at the Barcelona Open last week without dropping a set, but with Djokovic, Federer and Andy Murray all set to be in the draw this week, Nadal faces a much sterner test to lift his third title in Madrid.

Federer seemed to be the least concerned amongst the furore over the surface last year as in typically serene style he won the tournament for a record third time and he told the tournament's official magazine that he loves coming to Madrid, despite the home fans' obvious affection for his long-time rival Nadal.

"I enjoy playing in Madrid. They put up a great event, there is always a fantastic atmosphere when I play. Spanish people love tennis, Rafa is such a hero in Spain but I feel like they appreciate me and the other top players a lot as well and that is great," said the world number two.

Federer will return to action for the first time since losing to Nadal on the hard courts of Indian Wells back at the beginning of March as he took the availability of Monte Carlo being the only optional Masters event for the top players to continue training in Switzerland.

Murray will also look to get his clay court season up and running after a disappointing early exit to Stanislas Wawrinka in Monte Carlo.

The world number three, who won the tournament back in 2008 when it was played on a hard court, missed last year's event due to a back injury and has yet to reach a claycourt final.

In the women's event, reigning champion Serena Williams is once again the favourite.

However, the American could be usurped as world number one should Maria Sharapova win the tournament.

The Russian comes into Madrid in good form having won in Stuttgart last week, but since an early season wobble at the Australian Open where she was dumped out by teenage compatriot Sloane Stephens, Williams has looked imperious and hasn't been beaten since February thanks to wins at the Miami Masters and in Charleston last month.

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ROGER FEDERER

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?

Roger Federer is talking optimistically about returning to his "highest level" after knee surgery, but does tennis have to start adjusting to a future without the Swiss star?

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?
Is it the end of the line for Roger? Photo: Martin BUREAU / AFP

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced on Wednesday that he would be sidelined until 2021 after his second operation in a matter of months.

Federer remains upbeat, tweeting: “I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 percent ready to play at my highest level.”

In some ways 2020 is a good season to miss after the coronavirus ravaged the tennis schedule. Writing Federer off in the past has proved dangerous.

He returned from a six-month injury lay-off to claim the Australian Open in 2017, winning his eighth Wimbledon crown later that year.

But he will be 40 in 2021 and is now heading into uncharted territory.

Despite his groaning trophy cabinet, there are two factors that will motivate Federer to keep going — the risk of losing his grip on the men's Grand Slam title record and a missing Olympics singles gold medal.

Rafael Nadal has 19 majors, just one shy of Federer's mark and Djokovic has 17.

Spain's Nadal will be fancied to draw level with Federer at the French Open, rescheduled for September, while few would bet against Djokovic winning in New York weeks earlier.

In April, Federer said he was “devastated” when Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. Last year he fell agonisingly short at the All England Club, failing to convert two championship points on his own serve against Djokovic.

The Wimbledon grass probably remains his best chance of adding to his Grand Slam collection — he has not won the US Open since 2008 and his only title at Roland Garros came in 2009.

Even though Federer has slipped from the very pinnacle of the game, he is still a major threat to Nadal and Djokovic.

'Golden' ambitions

Last year, the world number four had a 53-10 win-loss record and he reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January in his only tournament this year.

Federer, who is still six ATP titles short of Jimmy Connors' all-time record of 109, has one glaring omission from his CV — the Olympic title.

The Swiss won doubles gold in Beijing in 2008 with compatriot Stan Wawrinka but lost in the singles final to Andy Murray in London four years later.

The postponed Tokyo Games will almost certainly be Federer's last opportunity to complete a career “golden” Grand Slam — he will turn 40 on the day of the closing ceremony next year.

Tennis will feel the loss of the elegant Federer keenly when he walks off the court for the last time.

Djokovic and Nadal have been the dominant forces in recent years but the Swiss remains the biggest draw and last month topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-earning athletes.

His last appearance on court was in front of nearly 52,000 fans — touted by organisers as a world record for tennis — at a charity match against Nadal in Cape Town in February.

Federer is nearly always the crowd favourite wherever he plays and has proved a perfect ambassador for the sport since he won his first Grand Slam title in 2003.

He certainly expects to be back and competitive next year.

“I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season,” he tweeted.

The avalanche of support from his adoring fans showed they would miss him too, but they will have to get used to a time when he is gone for good.

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