When he was 38 in 2019, Roger Federer was still one of the players to beat. this is how the Swiss champion ended the season in the Top 3, just behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, after winning a Masters 1000 title and after losing two match points in this epic Wimbledon final against the current King of the English slam, Novak Djokovic.
Roger reached the semi-final of the Australian Open in January last year, before deciding to have his right knee surgery in February. Still feeling the pain, Roger underwent another surgery in May and thus stayed away from the practice court until the end of the season, missing out on the rest of 2020 and focusing on 2021.
Working hard in Dubai and at home in Switzerland, Federer made a much-anticipated return to Doha in March, defeating Daniel Evans in close sets before fatally losing match point to Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Taking more time off the court, Federer entered his second tournament in Geneva in May, but not expecting much and just wanting to play a few matches on clay before the turf transition.
At his press conference before the start of the tournament in Geneva, Roger admitted that he was still far from matching the level of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, but that he remained focused on his improvements and that he hoped to play. at its best in Halle and Wimbledon.
As we all know, Federer reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, beaten by Hubert Hurkacz, before retiring from the rest of the season and announcing a third knee surgery.
Can Federer match Djokovic and Rafa’s level in 2022?
“I have to play ten games to give you a better answer regarding my current level.
Things went well in training. I am excited about the return and I will not focus on being at the same level as Rafa Nadal or Novak Djokovic, “commented the Swiss in Geneva.
“I was happy the knee didn’t behave any differently from hard on clay, and I expect the same when switching from clay to grass.
I’ve never had a major problem moving from surface to surface, but the concerns are always there with an injury and not having played for as long as I have.
Going to Doha, I was particularly worried about the level and the first set I played against Daniel Evans. I won it so I surprised myself a bit. Now we are on clay.
I will focus more on clay than on my opponent. Once I am healthy, it will increase my self-confidence. I think then that at that time I will be part of the top level.
If you want to be at the top level, you have to play 50, 80, or 100 games per season, which gets more difficult as you get older. We can also say that the game has improved even more, because there are many young people who reach the top 10.
It will be an additional challenge to find this level, but it could not be easy, taking into account the fact that I was absent for three months or almost a year and a half, “said Roger Federer.
–
