The break began in March, with Federer already sidelined since he was recovering from knee surgery.
Sunday would mark the first day of the French Open in its usual spot on the tennis calendar – in March, however, it was rescheduled for September – and another grand slam, Wimbledon in July, was canceled.
“I am happy with my body now and still believe that the return of the tour is very far away,” continued the 38-year-old. “And I think it is important mentally to enjoy this break, having played so much tennis.
“When I am going back and I have a goal to train for, I think I will be super motivated.”
“Most of the time, when we train, there’s nobody there,” said the 20-year-old male Grand Slam champion. “For us, of course, it is possible to play if there are no fans. On the other hand, I really hope the circuit can return as normal.
“And wait until the right time, at least a third of the stadium or half full. But, for me, completely empty when playing big tournaments is very difficult.”
Nadal, unlike Federer, has started practicing, albeit only recently. The Spaniard would have been favored to win a 20th major and tie Federer if the French Open had been played as usual since he had racked up a 12-title record at Roland Garros.
The next grand slam is scheduled for the US Open in late August in New York, with the organizers expected to announce in June if it will go ahead.
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