Fed may miss French Open

Monte Carlo - Former men's tennis world number one Roger Federer hinted on Wednesday the upcoming birth of another child for him and wife Mirka Vavrinec could prevent him playing in the French Open next month.

While the family have kept all details of the birth a tight secret - the actual date has never been revealed - the father of four-year-old twins said his family life would take precedence over any tennis match.

"It's a priority for me trying to be there (at the birth), trying to support my wife," said the fourth seed after beating Radek Stepanek in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters.

"Of course, I've played enough tennis matches.

"Missing a tournament or missing a match wouldn't change anything for me.

"As we don't know when it's going to be yet, I'm happy playing at the moment."

Asked if his decision would include the French Open, starting in just over five weeks, the 32-year old said: it was too early to say.

"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."

As it happened, the July, 2009 birth of twins Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, came with perfect timing, during the five-week gap between Federer's Wimbledon title and his pre-planned resumption in early August in Montreal.