Tennis: Federer to skip Roland Garros to concentrate on grass/hardcourt

PARIS (AFP) – Roger Federer declared Monday he will skip Roland Garros to better plan for the grass and hard court seasons.

The 18-time Grand Slam champ has won the French Open, challenged on dirt, only once in 2009, and furthermore hauled out of the occasion a year ago with knee and back wounds.

“I’ve been working truly hard, both on and off the court, amid the most recent month yet with a specific end goal to attempt and play on the ATP World Tour for a long time to come, I feel it’s best to avoid the dirt court season this year and plan for the grass and hard court seasons,” said the 35-year-old right now positioned fourth on the planet.

Federer, who possesses five US and Australian Open crowns and seven Wimbledon titles, has won the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami this season since returning from a six-month harm lay-off.

He cautioned in Miami that he would avoid some dirt court competitions, incorporating Masters arrangement occasions in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, while then foreseeing he may have a two-week warm-up on mud for Roland Garros.

“The begin to the year has been mysterious for me however I have to perceive that booking will be the way to my life span pushing ahead,” the Swiss star said in an announcement.

“Along these lines, my group and I finished up today that playing only one occasion on earth was not to the greatest advantage of my tennis and physical arrangement for the rest of the season.

“I will miss the French fans, who have dependably been so steady and I anticipate seeing them at Roland Garros one year from now.”