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Roger Federer was able to play the misery of 13 official matches in all of 2021, testifying to a physical condition far from the glories of the past. His last appearance dates back to Wimbledon, where he managed to hit the quarter-finals thanks also to a not impossible scoreboard.
After being clearly eliminated by Hubert Hurkacz, the Swiss phenomenon announced that he would not take part in the Tokyo Olympics due to a relapse in his right knee. On the evening of Sunday 15 August, news came that King Roger would have operated on the same limb for the third time in the last year and a half.
The surgery has already been performed and the 20-time Grand Slam champion started rehabilitation a few weeks ago. The hope is to see him back on the pitch in 2022, but it is too early to say too much. This setback will not allow the former ATP number 1 to participate in the fourth edition of the Laver Cup, staged at the TD Garden in Boston in a few days.
During a meeting with one of his sponsors (Mercedes), the 40-year-old from Basel took stock of the upcoming start of the event.
Team Europe boasts five of the world's top 10 players
"I think Team Europe will be again the favourites, and I think having Alexander Zverev as Olympic champion and Daniil Medvedev as the US Open champion on the team, it’s going to be really good for us, especially for the singles," Roger Federer said in an interview with Mercedes-Benz.
"I think doubles indoors - anything is possible, to be honest. I think it’s going to be close in the doubles. In the singles we have a slight edge, but they have a lot of young players on Team World, so I think a lot will be possible for them." Federer is hopeful they will make it four-in-a-row this year despite the absences of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and himself.
"It’s amazing how strong Team Europe has become over the years, also smaller nations being really dominant. But you know, no Rafael Nadal, no Novak Djokovic, no me on the team, so I think they will need a new leader or Bjorn Borg is obviously just going to take over as the captain, the super captain, the king.
I really hope that Team Europe, of course, is going to win again," Federer added. "Look, I'm disappointed. I'm going to miss the guys, I'm going to miss the team, the spirit, the fans, the weekend, just everything that goes with it - cheering on my fellow players," Federer said.
