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The last two seasons have not been particularly lucky for Roger Federer. The former world number 1 has played very little due to a serious knee injury, which is ruining the latter part of his immense career. The Swiss star played just 13 official matches last year, collecting nine wins and four losses.
The 40-year-old from Basel reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon thanks also to a not impossible scoreboard, but his path was abruptly interrupted against Hubert Hurkacz on Center Court. A few weeks later, the 20-time Grand Slam champion announced he was undergoing his third knee operation in 18 months.
King Roger, who had to salute the Top 10 for the first time since 2017, hopes to be back in action this summer. His presence at the Championships is highly doubtful, as Federer himself admitted in a recent interview with 'Credit Suisse'
Everyone's hope is that the Swiss can treat himself to one last round of the joust before hanging up his racket. To Eurosport's microphones, Federer recalled his historic triumph at the 2017 Australian Open.
Federer on his 2017 Australian Open triumph
"[The 2017 Australian Open] was my victory just as I was on the comeback.
That was something so ultra-special. Definitely top three in my life, as a tennis moment for me," Roger Federer said. "This is so high up there because it came so unexpectedly, and it was against Rafa in the final. It just had everything.
At the end, the moment showed what it meant to me, and still today. It was very, very special." The Swiss maestro also reminisced about his final against Nadal at Melbourne Park in 2009. He was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2 by the Spaniard, who lifted his first Australian Open title.
"[The 2009 Australian Open final] was maybe one of the best matches I think Rafa and I ever played against each other. It was incredible what he was able to dig out. It wasn't a super fast court and I just felt like I had to try all the tricks I had in the book to try to maneuver him around," he said.
Roger Federer had stated that he would stop playing the day he felt he couldn’t compete for Grand Slam titles. Thus, when he stated that he isn’t going to retire just yet, one can assume he wants to make another couple of runs at major titles.
However, would that be so easy for the 20-time Grand Slam champion? At his age, injuries come easier, and recovery from even a niggle takes a lot longer than the younger players who occupy the top 10.
