Roger Federer is Waiting to Enter Rome

Written by: Staff on 15th May 2012

Roger Federer is Waiting to Enter Rome |

Roger Federer is waiting until the last possible moment to see how his body pulls up after the rigors and strains of winning the Madrid Masters last week on controversial blue clay. The Swiss was reportedly nursing some hip and back pain after his efforts, with movement on the slicker blue being much changed from the classic style required on red.

But there have been no leaks form Team Federer, with the Swiss set to consider his entire fitness picture with the French Open starting a week from Sunday. Federer arrived in Rome at the Foro Italico, one of the few big events where he has never won a title after losing two finals, the last in long-ago 2006 to Rafael Nadal.

“Normally yes,” Federer said of his chances to taking to the court as scheduled in the second round. “But we’ll see how I feel over the next few days. I still have a couple of days to see how I feel and take it from there.

“It’s been a tough week, the body feels it when you come back from six weeks. It does hurt a bit so I just have to make sure I make the right decision. I hope I can play.”

Federer was temporarily luxuriating in his seventh title from ten ATP starts dating to last autumn. The 16-time grand slam winner’s 74th career title sent Rafael Nadal back to third on the ATP list, with Novak Djokovic still leading the chase.

Both of Federer’s top rivals fell by the wayside on the controversial blue clay which sent them out early but did not disturb the steady Swiss as he won his fourth trophy of the season.

As a result, Federer climbed to second and is glad to be back as he won following a strategic six-week pause from late March. “It’s obviously surprising to me to come back and win the title straight away. I was worried about getting through the first one and not even thinking who was going to be my second round opponent,” said Swiss.

“I was very realistic coming into this event. I guess I had forgotten that I have such a great record here in Madrid and I guess I drew from that.”

Topics: 10sBalls.Rafel nadal, Italian tennis news, Mutua Madrid Masters, Novak Djokoviccom, Roger Federer, Rome Open