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Roger Federer appeared this Monday before the press in the preview of his debut in Geneva. He reappears in this tournament after his participation in Doha last March, when he returned more than a year after a double knee operation.
In the absence of official confirmation on whether he will debut on Tuesday or Wednesday, the Swiss already knows that Pablo Andújar will be his first rival after the Spanish victory over Australian Jordan Thompson 6-0, 6-4.
The Swiss explained that he does not think about trying to catch up with Nadal and Djokovic, but simply about recovering his best level of play. “I only think on my own level. The guys on the circuit have a rhythm and a great level. But I prefer to work on my own, because I need matches to respond, ”said Federer. “It is not about catching up with Novak and Rafa,” he added.
Federer reappears midway through the clay court season, although his first clear target is Wimbledon. He believes that the change of surface will not be a problem: “Since 1998, I have never felt any special difficulty to go from one surface to another. After an injury, of course there is restlessness. But the important thing is to be able to evaluate if what happens is due to the knee or the lack of filming ”.
The Swiss pointed out that the delay of a week in the Roland Garros dates has made him plan the season differently, putting a clay court tournament, Geneva, before Paris, Halle and Wimbledon. In addition, he said that he has not followed the tournaments very closely during his absence from the circuit. “I feel fit and able to win games, to be on the court for hours, to recover and start over. This is how I will start to gain confidence ”, he assured.
Finally, he highlighted the level of Nadal and Djokovic within what he considers a global rise in the circuit. “During my absence, the generation of the Tsitsipas, Zverev and Rublev has grown stronger. Dominic has won a Grand Slam… and Rafa and Novak are always there. It will be even more difficult for me ”, he concluded.
Source: mundodeportivo.com.
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