SIMON GETS HIS WISH AS FEDERER WITHDRAWS FROM MADRID BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 6th May 2014

SIMON GETS HIS WISH AS FEDERER WITHDRAWS FROM MADRID BY RICKY DIMON

epa04028230 Gilles Simon of France in action against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their third round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2014. EPA/MAST IRHAM |

After Gilles Simon got through his first-round match at the Mutua Madrid Open and set up what was supposed to be a meeting with Roger Federer, the Frenchman joked, “I’m going to ask Mirka to push a bit.”

That, of course, referred to Federer’s pregnant wife–who is due to give birth at some point this spring. Well, there has not yet been any birth, but Simon still got his wish when Federer withdrew from Madrid on Tuesday to be with his family.

“I’ve decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family,” the Swiss wrote on his Facebook page. “I apologise to my fans and hope to be back in Madrid next year. I’ll be training near my home, and am excited to rejoin the Tour soon!”

Federer has not played since losing an all-Swiss final to Stanislas Wawrinka last month in Monte-Carlo. The 17-time Grand Slam champion has vowed that he will skip the French Open if the birth takes place at a conflicting time for the season’s second Grand Slam.

Lukasz Kubot replaced Federer in the main draw as a lucky loser and will face Simon on Wednesday. Federer’s absence leaves Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as the only seeds in the second quarter of the draw. It also derails a potential Federer vs. Rafael Nadal semifinal.

Topics: Gilles Simon, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Madrid, Mirka, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

May 6, 2014 at 8:53 am

SIMON GETS HIS WISH AS FEDERER WITHDRAWS FROM MADRID BY @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/MYiGEpIi4a @GillesSimon_ @rogerfederer #tennis #sports
RD_Tennistalk says:

May 6, 2014 at 10:18 am

RT @10sBalls_com: SIMON GETS HIS WISH AS FEDERER WITHDRAWS FROM MADRID BY @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/MYiGEpIi4a @GillesSimon_ @rogerfeder…
prettyembrace says:

May 6, 2014 at 10:28 am

Gets his wish lol @t_achaar “@10sBalls_com: SIMON GETS HIS WISH AS FEDERER WITHDRAWS FROM MADRID BY @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/u4LKDy6T8T“