Roger Federer Australian Open decision makes Nadal and Djokovic take notice – EXCLUSIVE

Roger Federer decided against practicing ahead of his clash with Novak Djokovic and his biggest rivals will be left wondering why, according to Mats Wilander.

World No 3 Federer suffered an issue with his groin during his quarter-final clash with Tennys Sandgren and took a nine-minute off-court medical timeout.

The 38-year-old played five grueling sets in the win over the world No 100 so opted to stay away from Melbourne Park on the eve of his showdown with Djokovic.

It is not the first time Federer has taken such as stance as he also skipped a practice session the day after being taken the distance by John Millman in the third round.

But seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander still reckons Rafael Nadal and Djokovic would have been scratching their heads over the decision.

“For sure Rafa and Novak will be looking at that,” Wilander, who hosts Eurosport’s Game, Schett & Mats show, told Express Sport.

“But at the same time they back away and say I’m just thinking about myself and not get wrapped up in what he is doing.

“There is a conversation going on all the time in your head about who is doing what, who is on the table in the trainer’s room.

“It’s like the guy who is sat in front of a computer for 20 hours a day and investing money, he knows what’s going on everywhere not just what he’s investing in.

“This is the same thing, they know everything and are soaking it up. And if you’re not you’re winning big tournaments.”

But Wilander does not think Federer’s decision to have a day off is a negative.

“Not practicing at all is probably the right move, for sure,” the Swede added.

“It is significant because everyone would like to feel good enough to hit a few balls every day, in a perfect world.

“Everyone who plays at that level or winning majors have long forgot, they are not expecting a perfect day and that’s why they’re still in it.

“He’s weighing ‘Should I, shouldn’t I’ but he has made the right decision every time he has stepped on the court and he knows his body.

“But having said that it doesn’t matter what Roger does to himself is my point – it’s what those guys see of what Roger is doing which makes a perception to him.

“He has played five sets, not practicing today – what the hell does that mean?

“It means he’s tired, it means he’s half-injured, it might mean his confidence is high enough so that he doesn’t have to hit balls.

“But that’s not what you tell yourself.”

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source: express.co.uk