Just What Federer Did Not Want to Hear

After an injury plagued summer, the world’s real number one tennis player is on the comeback trail. Rafael Nadal plans to return for the Rogers Cup in Montreal, beginning on August 8th. With the tournament being the U.S. Open tune-up, it’s no secret that Rafa has his sights set on his first title at Flushing Meadows and achieving the career Grand Slam– winning at all four major tournaments in a lifetime – at age 23, the feat recently accomplished by 27 year old Roger Federer at the French Open.

Federer, who finally regained his ranking as the world’s number one player after winning at Wimbledon in Rafa’s absence, must once again prepare to face one of the few players who dominates him, and Nadal’s timing may be perfect. Last year, by the time Nadal reached the U.S. Open after winning the French Open, Wimbledon, gold at the Summer Olympics, and the Rogers Cup, he was completely burnt out. Perhaps the forced rest due to tendinitis in his knees will provide him with enough energy to play the U.S. Open at peak form. If so, the end of the summer has the potential to be very exciting for Tennis fans around the world.