Roger Federer Says He’s Not Sure If He’ll Play Rome

Following a loss Thursday to Gael Monfils, Roger Federer admitted he didn’t know if he’d play the Rome Masters next month starting May 10.

“I’m going to go back to Switzerland and practice really hard, you know, from whatever the plan’s going to be from tonight on until Istanbul,” Federer said. “That’s, again, a good time I should utilize in the right way. I’m looking forward to that. I’m playing Istanbul, Madrid. We’ll always see what happens with Rome. It was never sure I was going to play that anyway.”

With the addition of Istanbul, which begins in nine days, Federer has a crowded clay season with Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Madrid and then Rome. Depending on how many matches the 33-year-old plays, Rome could get passed over.

Federer’s only skipped Rome once in his career, that in 2005. Like Monte Carlo, he has never won there finishing runner-up three times losing last year to Jeremy Chardy in the second round just days after the arrival of Lenny and Leo.

Thanks to his longevity and accomplishments, Federer is exempt from playing Masters event. He can choose to play whichever events he wants without penalty.