ROME: Roger Federer has alluded to a return at the Italian Open following a week off to welcome the birth of his second set of twins.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion tweeted on Monday, ”ciao tutti, I just arrived in bella Italia! Looking forward to Rome.”
Federer’s first opponent at the Foro Italico is slated to be 47th-ranked Jeremy Chardy.
Federer and wife Mirka were already parents to twin daughters when they announced the birth of twin boys, Leo and Lenny, six days ago – prompting him to withdraw from the Madrid Open.
Rome is one of only three Masters titles that Federer hasn’t won, and it’s the last key clay-court warmup for the French Open, which starts in two weeks. Federer reached the Rome final for the third time last year.
Unconvincing Nadal wins in Madrid
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal won an unconvincing second straight Madrid Open title after Kei Nishikori sustained a back injury when closing on victory in the second set of Sunday’s final and was forced to retire early in the third.
Nishikori, the 10th seed and one of the game’s rising talents, made a blistering start on Nadal’s favoured clay to win the first set 6-2 and was a break up in the second and serving at 4-3 when disaster struck.
After a long rally with the score at 15-30, the Japanese pulled up clutching his back and Nadal went on to win the game and the set 6-4 to force a decider.
Nishikori could barely walk to the net to shake hands after Nadal had raced into a 3-0 lead in the third. (AP)
