These are not easy times for Roger Federer, who has still not managed to recover from the knee operation he underwent last February and which puts his participation in the Australian Open in doubt. Although there are no official dates for the first Grand Slam of the year, the truth is that it would be during February 2021, depending on how the calendar will be organized with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Swiss had to undergo an arthroscopy in the knee and rehabilitation did not allow him to play any tournament when the competition resumed, last August.
Now, with the possible dispute of the Australian Open in early February, the Swiss questioned his participation in the event.
“I would love to be in Australia, but maybe it’s too early for my knee. I don’t want to take the next step until I’m ready. These weeks of margin can help me a little ”, said the Swiss in the ceremony before the ‘Sports Awards’.
Federer, 39, even fueled speculation about his future by evoking a possible retirement: “If my career had to end here, it would be good to end it with this award”, He said upon receiving the award that recognizes the best Swiss athlete of the last 70 years.
The Basel-born man has not played since February 2020, the date on which he had surgery on his right knee. In June, Federer revealed that he underwent a complementary operation on the same knee, forcing him to cancel the remainder of his 2020 season.
“I hope there is still something to see from me in the new year. We’ll see (…) We take our time, but the next two, three months will be very important to me “, warned Federer, who still holds number 5 in the ATP rankings.
In what could be his last year on the circuit, if he can recover, Federer would seek, in addition to a 9th title at Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympic tournament, the only major title missing from his mega-successful record.
“Summer, with Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open should be my priority,” added the winner of 20 Grand Slams.
Finally, he said that he still cannot train with the intensity that he would like and that this is something he will have to wait:I still can’t train on the court for more than two hours. I am currently working on my endurance and strength and the truth is that I am doing it without any pain. At first there will be no more operations ”.
.
