IMAGE: Rafael Nadal with Roger Federer in the course of the Laver Cup in September final yr. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Roger Federer mentioned he hopes Rafael Nadal will recuperate in time for the French Open and that it would be a “brutal” blow for tennis if the 14-time Roland Garros champion is absent this yr.
Nadal has been coping with a hip harm he suffered on the Australian Open in January, and fears that the Spaniard might miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week’s Italian Open.
Nadal skipped final week’s Madrid Open and likewise missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
“It would be brutal, it would be powerful for tennis if Rafa is not going to be there,” 20-times Grand Slam winner Federer informed Sky Sports on Sunday at Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix.
“I nonetheless hope so, I noticed he pulled out of Rome so I want him one of the best.
“Obviously Novak (Djokovic) hasn’t been taking part in that a lot so I hope he will be robust as effectively after which all of the younger guys coming via as effectively,” added Federer, who retired from tennis final yr.
Nadal has competed on the French Open yearly since profitable the primary of his males’s file 22 main titles in Paris in 2005. The claycourt main begins on May 28.
