Roger Federer urged to end his Paris Masters hiatus

ATP Tour
Roger Federer looking pensive

Paris Masters tournament director Guy Forget says they “are positive” that Roger Federer won’t snub this year’s event, but admits the Swiss is likely to once again make a last-minute decision.

Federer last played in the Paris ATP Masters 1000 in 2015 as he was injured in 2016 and then opted to skip the event last year as he decided to take a break ahead of the season-ending ATP Finals in London.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner admitted after his exit from the Shanghai Masters that he will next play in the Swiss Indoors while Paris is a “maybe” as his form is “something I can build on now for Basel and then for London and maybe Paris”.

Forget hopes that the 37-year-old will finally make a return to Paris this year, but knows they are unlikely to get an answer long in advance.

“There is not much we can do,” he told Tennis World USA. “I’d wish Paris was before Basel, but that’s how the schedule is and if Roger comes we would be very happy.

“And if he doesn’t come, there will be more chances for other players to do well.

“He has not been coming to Paris for a while and fans expect him to finally make it because we are a Masters 1000 and we are twice bigger than Basel, we have a great venue and the courts are a little bit faster now and it would be a very big opportunity for him to do very well.

“Because if he comes, he would be one of the favourites. And it’s one of the tournaments he has some of the best chances to win, because he has played well in the past.

“We are positive. But it’s up to him, we have no influence or power on that.

“Roger will decide on the Rolex Paris Masters at the last minute. It depends on how he feels.

“If he doesn’t come, we would like to know it as early as possible because the draw would be more balanced, but if he comes, we would be very happy to have him.”

More from Tennis365:

Roger Federer

Latest