Federer: Back injury still a problem; “no hard feelings” with Wawrinka

Roger Federer has yet to return to practice because of a back injury, but says he and compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka are on good terms following their semifinal dispute during the ATP World Tour Finals.

Federer, having developed another back injury during the third-set tiebreak of his match against Wawrinka, said it was the same type of problem he has had previously, but severe enough to prevent him from playing the final. The world No. 2 said he is still hoping to play the Davis Cup final this week alongside Wawrinka, with Switzerland attempting to win the team competition for the first time.

“It's definitely not good enough to practice yesterday,” Federer said at a team press conference in Lille, France, where the tie will be played. “I feel it’s definitely a little bit better than it was on Saturday night and Sunday and also Monday.”

Federer will attempt to practice on Wednesday, saying, “I needed rest in the very beginning because you need to have the inflammation go away. Then it's exercises, treatment.”

On the dispute with Wawrinka, Federer said the two “had a conversation” following the match and that it had been a “heat-of-the-moment” happening.

Wawrinka exchanged heated comments during the third set of the match with Mirka Federer, Roger’s wife. He objected to the timing of her cheering, drawing an angry reaction. Umpire Cedric Mourier confirmed in an interview with French press that Mirka was the subject of Wawrinka's complaint.

“I said, there’s no hard feelings whatsoever. We're having a good time here. We are friends, not enemies,” said Federer.

“We had no problem together. We talk about that already straight after the match.  Not only about that, about many things,” agreed Wawrinka.

Federer and Wawrinka are scheduled to take on a French team led by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, and Richard Gasquet.