Roger Federer could make his return to clay tournaments in 2019 after skipping all the tournaments on this surface in 2017 and 2018.
Federer will make his final decision about his plan to play on clay after the “Sunshine” tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.
According to reports from Federer’s training camp in Dubai the 20-time Grand Slam champion may play two clay tournaments in Barcelona and Rome in the build-up to Roland Garros. The Basel native player has not played at the French Open since losing to his compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the quarter final on the Phillippe Chatrier court in 2015.
Federer has not played in Barcelona since 2000, when he lost to Sergi Bruguera in straight sets at the age 18. The Swiss legend played the Rome final in 2003, 2006, 2013 and 2015 but never won the Italian tounament. He lost to Rafael Nadal in a five-set epic clash in 2006. Rome and Monte-Carlo are the only two Masters 1000 titles that are missing in his trophy cabinet.
After his Roland Garros triumph in 2009 Federer won just two finals on clay in Madrid 2012 and Istanbul 2015. He has not played in any clay tournament since Rome 2016, where he lost to Dominic Thiem in the third round. In 2017 he skipped the clay season to focus on the grass season and his decision paid off, as he won Halle and Wimbledon. In 2018 he repeated the same plan to skip the clay season and return last June with a title in Stuttgart. He lost to Borna Coric in the Halle final and was defeated by Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon quarter final after wasting a match point. In 2018 Federer won his 20th Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Stuttgart and Basel.
“Roger Federer is planning to play clay in 2019. He is considering to play in Rome and Barcelona in preparation for Roland Garros. Everything is depending on his body after Indian Wells and Miami and will be confirmed only thereafter”, a source in Dubai tweeted.
Paul Anncocone, who coached Federer in the past, told recently to Express Sport that Federer could play on clay next year.
“I would not be surprised at all if he plays at Roland Garros. He loves Paris and has not played in the last couple of years. There is no reason he can’t do well there, again it’s about his schedule. Where will he take a break if he plays there”,said Annacone.
