Roger Federer is struggling with rehabilitation after having undergone yet another operation on his right knee. The Swiss champion, whose last match dates back to Wimbledon 2021, hopes to return in late summer or early autumn.
For the moment, his presence at the Laver Cup and the ATP in Basel has been confirmed. The last two years have been an ordeal for the King on a sporting level, but the former world number 1 never thought about hanging up a racket.
Fans are hoping the 40-year-old from Basel can treat himself to one last ride before closing his legendary career. Roger’s last seal in a Major dates back to the Australian Open 2018, but it is impossible not to remember the two match points wasted against Novak Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
During a long interview with ‘RTBF’, Christopher Clarey – well-known correspondent of the New York Times – highlighted Federer’s maturation over the years. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has become a role model both on and off the pitch.
Clarey reflects on King Roger
“Roger Federer has a lot of emotional intelligence and empathy. It’s really very striking. I covered the sport for 25-30 years and it’s quite rare to see top athletes who don’t stay locked up on themselves.
Roger is always watching people from the outside and feeling the waves in the rooms, in the interviews. It’s quite rare I think,” the American explained. “At the beginning he was very angry on the court, he had a lot of problems controlling his emotions during matches.
You watch videos of him in 1999 at Roland Garros or at the start of his career, the rackets fly,” Clarey stated. “I can’t imagine if he feels good, after all this work to return, even if he is almost 41 years old, that he will not make the 2023 season and why not a last Wimbledon.
Roger’s glory days are over in my opinion, but he can still play a big part in some games if he stays healthy,” Clarey said. Yesterday, the draws for Roland Garros 2022 were released. Nadal was handed a tough draw as he might set up a quarterfinal clash with the in-form, Novak Djokovic.
Moreover, in the second round, Nadal could face the three-times Grand Slam champion, Stanislas Wawrinka. Roger Federer has announced his participation at the Laver Cup in September and the Swiss Indoors in October. As the clay-court Grand Slam tournament unfolds, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. The main-draw action starts this Sunday.
