Roger Federer has said he will assess his further participation in the ongoing French Open after a gruelling 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 7-5 win over Germany's Dominik Koepfer on an empty Court Philippe Chatrier in Saturday's night match.

The 20-times Grand Slam champion was competing in only his sixth match in 17 months following knee surgery and suggested after the third-round clash which ended past midnight that he could preserve himself for Wimbledon which begins on June 28.

Asked how much he would want to push himself through the whole tournament, the 39-year-old Swiss told reporters: "We go through these matches... we analyse them highly and look on what's next and we'll do the same tonight and tomorrow.

"Because I need to decide if I keep on playing or not or is it not too much risk at this moment to keep pushing or is this just a perfect way to just take a rest.

"Because I don't have the week in between here and Halle (June 14-20), like normal, to see what's best now if you count back from Wimbledon and so forth.

"It's just a lot going on, but having a match like this, knowing I could have probably played a fifth set but not knowing how I will wake up tomorrow is interesting, to say the least. Yeah, it's definitely a different time right now for me."

Federer, who faces Matteo Berrettini for a place in the quarter-finals where he could potentially meet world number one Novak Djokovic, said he would have liked to know he is at his best like Djokovic or holder Rafa Nadal.

"... I would prefer to be in Rafa's or Novak's shoes right now where they're like, 'I'm feeling good. If I'm playing well, I'm winning'," Federer said.

"I don't have that feeling right now, so for me these are all stepping stones... to something that is really important to me. It's the season and it's the comeback. I need matches like these, you know."

Roger Federer has said he will assess his further participation in the ongoing French Open after a gruelling 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 7-5 win over Germany's Dominik Koepfer on an empty Court Philippe Chatrier in Saturday's night match.

Roger Federer has said he will assess his further participation in the ongoing French Open after a gruelling 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 7-5 win over Germany's Dominik Koepfer on an empty Court Philippe Chatrier in Saturday's night match. The 20-times Grand Slam champion was competing in only his sixth match in 17 months following knee surgery and suggested after the third-round clash which ended past midnight that he could preserve himself for Wimbledon which begins on June 28. Asked how much he would want to push himself through the whole tournament, the 39-year-old Swiss told reporters: "We go through these matches... we analyse them highly and look on what's next and we'll do the same tonight and tomorrow. "Because I need to decide if I keep on playing or not or is it not too much risk at this moment to keep pushing or is this just a perfect way to just take a rest. "Because I don't have the week in between here and Halle (June 14-20), like normal, to see what's best now if you count back from Wimbledon and so forth. "It's just a lot going on, but having a match like this, knowing I could have probably played a fifth set but not knowing how I will wake up tomorrow is interesting, to say the least. Yeah, it's definitely a different time right now for me." Federer, who faces Matteo Berrettini for a place in the quarter-finals where he could potentially meet world number one Novak Djokovic, said he would have liked to know he is at his best like Djokovic or holder Rafa Nadal. "... I would prefer to be in Rafa's or Novak's shoes right now where they're like, 'I'm feeling good. If I'm playing well, I'm winning'," Federer said. "I don't have that feeling right now, so for me these are all stepping stones... to something that is really important to me. It's the season and it's the comeback. I need matches like these, you know."

Tennis: Roger Federer to assess further participation at Roland Garros

Three-time champion Serena Williams returns to Grand Slam tennis on Tuesday and will play against Kristyna Pliskova in the Round of 128 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Former world number one has not played any major tournament after winning the Australian Open 2017. She was able to use her protected ranking to enter the French Open.

Serena has since crashed to 453 in the world as a result, however, she can use the initial rounds to improve her ranking.

The former world number one briefly returned for the American hardcourt season but suffered early losses to sister Venus and Naomi Osaka in Indian Wells and Miami respectively.

Also, current world number one Simona Halep, chasing a maiden grand slam crown, will start her campaign against American Alison Riske.

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It’s National Heat Awareness Day, grab your <a href="https://twitter.com/MissionAthlete?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@missionathlete</a> MAX cooling towel and stay cool and safe all summer long! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onamission?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#onamission</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/heatsquad?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#heatsquad</a> <a href="https://t.co/d4cYQz9cCz">pic.twitter.com/d4cYQz9cCz</a>
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The former world one last played a major tournament in a victorious 2017 Australian Open campaign

Three-time champion Serena Williams returns to Grand Slam tennis on Tuesday and will play against Kristyna Pliskova in the Round of 128 on Court Philippe Chatrier. Former world number one has not played any major tournament after winning the Australian Open 2017. She was able to use her protected ranking to enter the French Open. Serena has since crashed to 453 in the world as a result, however, she can use the initial rounds to improve her ranking. The former world number one briefly returned for the American hardcourt season but suffered early losses to sister Venus and Naomi Osaka in Indian Wells and Miami respectively. Also, current world number one Simona Halep, chasing a maiden grand slam crown, will start her campaign against American Alison Riske. It’s National Heat Awareness Day, grab your @missionathlete MAX cooling towel and stay cool and safe all summer long! #onamission #heatsquad pic.twitter.com/d4cYQz9cCz — Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) May 25, 2018 ×

French Open: Serena Williams set for Grand Slam return

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Tennis: Roger Federer to assess further participation at Roland Garros

French Open: Serena Williams set for Grand Slam return