Roger Federer will play only two clay-court tournaments in 2009 before the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament he has never won.
Federer will head to Paris on May 24 after playing Masters series events on his least favourite surface in Rome and Madrid, according to a schedule published on his official website.
Federer played four clay-court events this year ahead of the French Open — Estoril, Portugal; Monte Carlo; Rome; and Hamburg, Germany. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final.
“I am really pleased with the season the way we have planned it and I am looking forward to an exciting year,” Federer said.
Federer had a tough 2008 season marred by illness and a back injury. He surrendered his Wimbledon title and No. 1 ranking to Nadal, but won the US Open for his 13th Grand Slam title.
Federer’s agent, Tony Godsick, had said in October that the Swiss star would play a 2009 schedule “that works for him physically.”
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