Federer to rest before French Open

Roger Federer will miss the majority of the clay-court season in order to rest up before the French Open.

Federer beat Rafael Nadal on Sunday to add the Miami Open title to his wins at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this season.

Having missed the final six months of last season with a knee injury, Federer feels he needs a break to ensure he is at his best for the French Open and he plans to take nearly two months off as he prepares for Roland Garros.

"When I am healthy and feeling good, I can produce tennis like this," Federer told ESPN. "When I am not feeling this good there is no chance I will be in the finals competing with Rafa.

"That is why this break is coming in the clay-court season, focusing everything on the French, the grass and then the hard courts after that.

"I'm not 24 any more so things have changed in a big way and I probably won't play any clay-court event except the French."

While he hopes to win his second title in Paris, Federer admits Wimbledon is his main target over the coming months.

"Wimbledon has to be the biggest goal now," he added.

"The American hard courts I guess as well. The French Open, to some extent, we will see what happens, there is no pressure there really.

"All the grass is important to me. The second part of the season is the big priority.

"My knee was strange on the clay last year so maybe being away from it as much as possible is a good thing as well, even though I don't think it was because of the clay as such.

"But my physio, my fitness guy, thought that could be a good thing not to be too much on clay. I feel very comfortable, very confident it is the right decision.

"I will probably stay on hard courts for the next few weeks and I will get on the clay two weeks before the French. Hopefully I will play the French and then for me that's when the season really starts." 

The Masters is live on eir Sport with coverage from Augusta National beginning with the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday.