In recent times, it's not easy to see Roger Federer's best smile. The Swiss found a small oasis in Johannesburg, where two weeks ago there was a crowd bath with Rafael Nadal, but the last eight months have not been especially kind to him. He took a tremendous stick in July, incredibly losing the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, and then saw how the Balearic (New York) and the Serbian (Melbourne) cut his ground in the greats. And now another setback is added, this of a physical nature. For the second time in his career, Federer has had to go through the operating room to repair his right knee and, consequently, will not officially step on a track until at least the end of June.
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Federer will step on the earth, but this year only Paris
Carlos Alcaraz, the next jewel
Last week, his agent, the American Tony Godsick, said that the Basel tennis player had decided to do without preparatory events in clay and that he would land directly at Roland Garros, where he signed the semifinals last year. However, this Thursday, in contrast, Federer (38 years) issued a statement through their social networks in which he announced that he will not be able to play for the next four months. That is, he will not play the French major (from May 24 to June 7), and the North American tour on cement, the 1000 Masters of Indian Wells (March 12-22) and Miami (from 25 to 5 of April).
“My right knee has been bothering me for a while now. I expected to return, but after an acknowledgment and discussing it with my team, I decided to undergo an arthroscopic operation in Switzerland this Wednesday, ”the text says; “After the operation, doctors have confirmed that it was the right thing and they trust a complete recovery. Consequently, unfortunately I will not be able to play in Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogotá, Miami and Roland Garros . I am very grateful for all your support. I can't wait to play again. See you in the grass! ”
Federer, currently three in the world, says he is still able to achieve more success. They continue to seduce him every day of tennis and travel, but at a competitive level he has deflated. He raised his last trophy in Basel, on October 27, but has not won a major tournament since the last edition of Miami, and a Grand Slam since just over two years (Australia 2018). Wimbledon's wound, where he had two match balls before Djokovic, has not yet sutured. Although last season he offered a high performance, reaching the London final and the semifinals of Paris and the Masters, the feeling is that he faces a rather twilight straight. He survived recently in Melbourne, barely, reaching the semifinals based on improbable comebacks, and this second operation is another slowdown.
In any case, Federer is Federer and there is no territory more appetizing for him than Wimbledon, his great goal. Strategically, he now considers that it is best to go through the operating room, something virtually unknown to him. In 22 years of professional career, the Swiss only submitted to the scalpel on a previous occasion. It was in 2016, after playing the Australian Open. Then he underwent another arthroscopy, although in the left knee, and reappeared in the spring season of the herb. That is, again, his claim. Arrive in the best possible conditions to your garden .
CARLOS ALCARAZ says goodbye to RIO
The Murcia Carlos Alcaraz fell in the eighth of the tournament in Rio de Janeiro against Argentina's Federico Coria 6-4, 4-6 and 6-4 (in 2h 17m). The 16-year-old Spaniard and the great hope for the future of Spanish men's tennis said goodbye to an event that he will remember forever, since two days ago he achieved his first victory in the ATP circuit, against the Catalan Albert Ramos .
Despite losing, Alcaraz, who will be ranked 313 in the ranking , took a big booty from Brazil and gave in a duel in which he was actually in his hands; He made 36 winning shots and had 14 break options, but as a counterpart he accused 35 unforced errors and only validated four break balls. He has exhibited his faculties at the highest level in the Rio Arena and will now reconcile some ITF appointments and challengers .
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