Roger Federer has become the second major casualty at Rome today after Naomi Osaka as the Swiss maestro withdrew from the Italian Open because of a leg injury.
The world number three revealed he suffered the injury following an incident when he slipped during his third round match against Borna Coric. Federer had saved match-points before beating Coric in that match but he will now be fighting to get back to full fitness before the French Open.
Federer was going to play Stefanos Tsitsipas in his quarter-final at the Rome Masters on Friday but his defeat now means the much-awaited clash between the Swiss player and Rafael Nadal will have to wait a while.
Had Federer defeated Tsitsipas – and they were 1-1 on head to head already this year – and Nadal won his quarter-final against Fernando Verdasco, the pair would have clashed in the semi-final. However, what now needs to be seen is if Federer can make it fully fit by the time the 2019 French Open starts on May 26.
He had won the French Open title in 2009.
The other men’s Rome Masters quarter-finals will have Novak Djokovic take on Juan Martin del Potro, Rafael Nadal play Fernando Verdasco and Kei Nishikori face Diego Schwartzman.
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