Roger Federer Could Miss French Open to Attend Wife's Birth

Roger Federer could be forced to end a streak of 57 consecutive grand slam appearances by missing the French Open to ensure he is with his wife during birth, the 17-time grand slam champion has confirmed.

The Federer family announced in December they were expecting a new addition to their family however they are unaware of a due date.

After claiming he would be prepared to miss a tournament in order to be with his wife Mirka during the birth, Federer added that he could skip the upcoming French Open, the second grand slam on the year which runs from 25 May to 8 June, if required.

"So we're just waiting [on a due date]," Federer said after beating Radek Stepanek at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

"It's a priority for me trying to be there, trying to support my wife. I've played enough tennis matches. Missing a tournament or missing a match wouldn't change anything for me."

"Yeah, let's talk about it when it would happen. At the moment we hope it's not going to be that way. If it is, that's what it is, you know."

Federer avoided having to withdraw from tennis upon the birth of his twins Myla Rose and Charlene Riva in July 2009 as it fell in between Wimbledon and the start of the American hard court season.

After suffering from a back problem for much of the 2013 season, Federer has begun the new year in impressive fashion, reaching the semi-final of the Australian Open and the final in Indian Wells.

The current world No.4 is playing in the opening clay court event of the year in Monte Carlo for the first time since 2011 and reached the quarter final after dismissing Lukas Rosol in straight sets on Thursday.