KEY POINTS

  • Roger Federer has not played since the 2021 Wimbledon
  • He is recovering from three knee surgeries
  • Federer is expected to return to action next month at Laver Cup

Roger Federer has not played since 2021 Wimbledon and Rafael Nadal is hopeful that the Swiss Master can "manage to be back" on court.

Nadal's comments came ahead of the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the calendar year that will not be featuring both Federer and Novak Djokovic. The Serbian athlete, who has repeatedly confirmed that he will not take the vaccine, was forced to pull out of the tournament due to Covid-19 travel rules in the U.S.

Federer is set to make a comeback at the Laver Cup, which is scheduled to take place next month in London.

"Of course, super excited to see Roger again on court. I hope he's healthy enough to make that happen. Yeah, let's see. It has been a long period of time without Roger on the court, so I really hope that he can manage to be back. But let's see," Nadal told reporters ahead of U.S. Open.

In the past couple of years, Federer has undergone three knee surgeries. He has not played a competitive tennis match since his quarter-final defeat to Hubert Hurkacz at the 2021 Wimbledon.

Old pals act: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal first clashed in 2004
Old pals act: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal first clashed in 2004 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / CLIVE BRUNSKILL

While Federer's knee issues have led to speculations over his future, Nadal extended support to his friend and arch-rival and expressed excitement to share a team with him in the Laver cup.

"The most important thing at this stage of his career is health and happiness, no? If he's healthy enough and happy enough to be back to the tennis tour, (it) will be amazing. If not, we just can say thanks to him for everything that he achieved. I am confident that we will keep having Roger for a while. Yeah, I can't wait to share team with him in the Laver Cup," the former World No. 1 added.

At the Laver Cup, Federer will team up with his fierce rivals Nadal and Djokovic in Team Europe. Following this, the 20-time Grand Slam winner will play at the Swiss Indoors at home in Basel in October.

In Federer's absence, Nadal and Djokovic have gone ahead of him in the race to most Grand Slam titles. While Djokovic clinched his 21st major title by winning the 2022 Wimbledon, the Spaniard's tally is 22 after he won the opening two Grand Slams this year: the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

US Open is set to begin on Monday (Aug. 29) at Flushing Meadows, New York, with the men's singles final scheduled to be played on Sept. 11.

Nadal's first round is on Tuesday (Aug. 30) against Australia's 21-year-old Rinky Hijikata, who has entered the hard-court tournament via a wild card.