Roger Federer turned 38 in 2019 and finished the season inside the top-3 behind his biggest rivals. The Swiss veteran claimed a Masters 1000 title in Miami and squandered two match points in an epic Wimbledon final that went all the way.
Roger reached the semifinal of the Australian Open in early 2020 and underwent knee surgery a few weeks later. Federer required the second surgery in May, ending the season and hoping for a fresh start in 2021. Roger returned to action after 13 months in Doha last year, playing two games and taking another break until May.
He suffered an early loss in Geneva and reached the fourth round at Roland Garros. Eager to preserve his knee for the grass, Roger withdrew before the clash with Matteo Berrettini and focused on Halle. Federer, who was still feeling the pain, fell in the second round to Felix Auger-Aliassime, suffering his first loss in one of his favorite events, and is not looking good heading into Wimbledon.
In his 22nd season at the All England Club, Roger stopped the clock and became the oldest Wimbledon quarterfinalist in the Open era. The Swiss got rid of Adrian Mannarino, Richard Gasquet, Cameron Norrie and Lorenzo Sonego to enter the round of 16 and extend his last streak at Wimbledon.
Hubert Hurkacz defeated Federer 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, marking Roger’s first upset since 2008 and his last meeting in singles. Federer underwent his third operation a few weeks later and did not recover. He announced his retirement and played his last match two months ago with Rafael Nadal.
Lapentti praises King Roger
Roger Federer’s game was among the most difficult to break as he barely had any weaknesses in his tennis arsenal, former World No. 6 Nicolas Lapentti opined. “He was that kind of a player where you would play a good shot and a better shot would come back.
It was very difficult to find a weak spot,” Nicolas Lapentti said on a recent episode of The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast. “Roger was awesome in all aspects,” Lapentti further said. “He was great on the court, he was great off the court, he was unbelievable in the locker room, he used to hang out and be funny and do jokes.
He loved soccer so we talked about soccer. He was all class. Of course, what he did to the tennis world was so amazing. I think no one will ever match what he did,” he expressed.
