Roger Federer: Swiss star should have copied Serena Williams - Mats Wilander
ROGER FEDERER should have tried to play at the French Open like Serena Williams.
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That is according to former world No 1 Mats Wilander.
Federer decided to miss the French Open for the second consecutive year in a bid to keep his legs fresh for the grass court season.
The 36-year-old will be aiming to win Wimbledon for the ninth time when it gets underway on July 2.
But his decision not to play Roland Garros and challenge Rafael Nadal has angered critics.
Serena Williams reached the French Open round of 16 before withdrawing with injury but the 23-time Grand Slam champion failed to play a warm-up event before Roland Garros.
Roger knows how to play on this surface. He wouldn’t have got hurt
And Wilander believes Federer would not have risked much if he had played in Paris and said his absence has disappointed the fans.
“It’s unfortunate and I think Serena must get a lot of credit (for trying) to come and do that,” he told Reuters.
“It’s not a criticism but it’s a shame. It’s not like it’s (fast court specialist) Pete Sampras.
"Roger knows how to play on this surface. He wouldn’t have got hurt.
“He said it’s about being competitive. But I think it’s about him coming here to compete. I played this tournament many times when I wasn’t competitive but I still came to compete.
“Ninety five percent of the field is not competitive when Nadal is playing. You should play all the slams you physically can.
“There is not one single person who walks through these gates here and doesn’t miss Roger Federer, and he knows that.
“We are disappointed in a constructive way. I don’t blame him but would have loved to see him here.”