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Roger Federer before comeback: "For me, tennis is like cycling"

2021-03-08T14:13:31.338Z


Roger Federer could not play tournament tennis for more than a year. After two knee operations, he is now returning to the court. If that works out? The 39-year-old doesn't know that for sure.


Icon: enlarge

Roger Federer during training in Qatar: "I have the feeling that the story is not over yet"

Photo: Paul Zimmer / imago images / Paul Zimmer

Last season showed what a tennis world would look like without the player Roger Federer.

The 39-year-old Swiss had to wait more than a year for his comeback due to a knee injury.

At that age, not every athlete would have worked so long to be back on the field at some point.

Federer does.

He is now about to make a comeback at the Qatar Open.

"I just have the feeling that the story is not over yet," said Federer, he wants to know again.

Probably on Wednesday he will contest his first tour match since the Australian Open 2020 against the Briton Dan Evans or the Frenchman Jérémy Chardy. The tennis fans are watching closely how well Federer has started the new year after his two knee operations.

And not just that.

“I think everyone loves to see him play tennis.

Even me, who is actually a rival of his, ”said US Open Champion Dominic Thiem on Monday.

“It looks so beautiful, so easy.

In a way, I'm still a fan of his and so I'm very happy that he is back, «said the Austrian.

Icon: enlarge

Roger Federer: Now it's about the knee

Photo: Paul Zimmer / imago images / Paul Zimmer

"For me, tennis is like cycling"

It remains to be seen whether Federer can actually make his game look so easy and fit again.

"I'm curious to find out myself," said Federer.

And he explained to the “Tagesanzeiger”: “For me, tennis is like cycling, you never forget that.” How his knee will react to the new exertions is questionable: “At the moment I'm not sure that the knee will hold, but I am confident, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

I've done everything I could. "

Resigning was "not an issue" for Federer, and so Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will also pursue what their competitor can still achieve.

The big three continue to compete for significant entries in the sport's history books.

Federer has had a record since Monday.

Djokovic was now in first place in the world rankings for a total of 311 weeks, one week longer than the Basler.

Djokovic will focus his focus even more on adding more to his 18 major wins and outdoing Nadal and Federer (both 20).

Nadal proved at the French Open last year that he is still one of the best, Federer had to watch.

“The boys are out of this world.

Both seem to be at their peak, «said Federer, that is good for the sport and the debate about the greatest player in history, which has long since flared up.

He is currently "more about my health and my own game than about the record."

Nevertheless, one can continue to assume that he has great goals.

Doha is only a first step for the noble technician, Federer is primarily looking at a possible ninth title at Wimbledon, and he also has the Olympic Games in mind.

On the final day of the world event in Tokyo, Federer will be 40 years old.

"Hopefully I'll play long enough to see full stadiums again," he said.

Icon: The mirror

ptz / dpa / sid

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-03-08

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