Tennis supremo slams Roger Federer

The owner of the Madrid Open tennis tournament has criticised Roger Federer over his decision to skip the 2017 clay-court season.

Federer hasn't played since winning the Miami Open in April, skipping the French Open as well as lead-up events in Madrid, Monte Carlo and Rome.

The 35-year-old cited the need to preserve his body for his more-favoured surfaces at Wimbledon and the US Open in his decision to miss Roland Garros for a second-straight year.

While the majority of his peers and most pundits have backed the call, Ion Tiriac is not happy.

The Madrid Open owner is a Romanian former tennis player, and he reckons he's been let down by the Swiss great.

"I expected to see Federer in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome," Titiac told Tennis World.

"Through his career he always did his job but now it's different. He only plays sometimes and we can't count on him anymore.

Federer and Tiriac in 2006. Image: Getty

"Federer is a great champion. He is good for tennis but it's not positive for the Tour to play so less.

"In tennis there aren't only Major events, but also nine Masters 1000s that lasts 12 weeks in total. 80% of the money comes just from these events."

Tiriac isn't alone in his criticism, with World No.22 John Isner also seemingly slamming Federer recently.

Although Isner respects the motivation behind the decision, he admits he would never miss a major tournament to improve his future prospects.

"He's focusing on three or four big goals this year, and Wimbledon is one of those," Isner said.

"You don't want to miss a slam. I would never do that, unless I couldn't physically take the court."

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have accepted the withdrawal which enhances their own hopes of claiming the title at Roland Garros, while Andy Roddick believes the decision is "smart".