'Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer will struggle to win more Majors' says Wilander

Tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will not play for the rest of the season, dealing with injuries and hoping for a fresh start in 2022. Federer played 13 matches this season following a nasty knee injury that required two surgeries in February and May last year. Giving his best to recover, the veteran competed at five events between March and July this year, reaching the Wimbledon quarter-final but still feeling the pain. Pleased with seven victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Federer could not stay competitive for the rest of the season and fight for the titles, sidelined with knee issues and announcing the third surgery within 20 months. Federer will embrace another long recovery, expecting to play at some point next year and continue his career. Rafael Nadal played his last match of the season in Washington, realizing that he can not deal with foot pain without a more extended break and deciding to skip the remaining events of 2021.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will not play in the rest of 2021.

Rafa felt the pain during the Roland Garros semi-final against Novak Djokovic, and it sidelined him from Wimbledon and the Olympic Games. Making one last push, the Spaniard played two matches in Washington before wrapping up the season and setting eyes on 2022. Mats Wilander believes that these injuries will reduce Nadal's and Federer's chances of winning more Major titles in the future, currently standing on 20, just like Novak Djokovic. Still, the Swiss repeated that we can not rule out Nadal at Roland Garros and Federer at Wimbledon as long as they play, although it will not get any easier for them in the years to come if they remain active.

"As long as Rafa shows that he wants to compete and is physically trying, he works hard whenever he can to even consider playing. I'm very sad and worried, but I think he will make comebacks until the day when he can not do that anymore. His will is still there. You can not rule out Nadal winning Roland Garros again in the future, considering his record in Paris. The same goes for Roger Federer at Wimbledon; you should not rule them out, but they are both getting older, and it becomes tougher to win Major titles," Mats Wilander said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/380Vomz