The comeback of tennis superstar Roger Federer could be delayed further, the participation of the Swiss in the first Grand Slam tournament in 2021 is still uncertain. “It will be close with the Australian Open,” said the 39-year-old on Sunday in an interview with SRF. “I was hoping that I would be at 100 percent by October, unfortunately I wasn’t – and still am not today,” said the 20-time Grand Slam winner. “I wish I was further, but I’m still happy where I am.”
Federer played at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January this year, where he was eliminated in the semifinals with adductor problems. After that, he only competed in a show match against the Spaniard Rafael Nadal in Cape Town and had to undergo an arthroscopy in his right knee. Another intervention followed in June. “The second knee operation was a huge damper, but in the last six months it has moved steadily forward,” said the fifth in the world.
A final decision is to be made these days whether the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne will be postponed by three weeks and then only start on February 8th. This would at least accommodate Federer. The Swiss don’t want to put themselves under unnecessary pressure: “We’re taking our time, the next two or three months will be extremely important for me.”
