The aisles of the Roland-Garros stadium are still quiet, this Sunday, at the end of the morning. The happy spectators holding a sesame for the day still arrive in small quantities. But one subject is on everyone's lips: will Roger Federer play his round of 16 this Monday against Italian specialist Matteo Berrettini? The Swiss, himself, sowed the seeds of doubt and caused this stir. In the wake of his marathon match (7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5) against the German Koepfer, ended in the night from Saturday to Sunday - which could therefore be the last of his career wears d'Auteuil -, he announced seriously hesitating to continue the adventure on Parisian clay this year.
For Thomas the misunderstanding prevails.
“It's contempt for the tournament, it's still a Grand Slam, indicates this commercial executive.
When you start this kind of tournament, it's to win it, or go as far as possible, not to rest or prepare for another.
And a victory is always the best preparation.
It is unexpected from such a player.
It doesn't match the image I have of him.
"
There's nothing quite like it ❤️ pic.twitter.com/A5SCKFptrs
- Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 6, 2021
But Thomas seems the only one to hold this disapproving speech to the address of "RodGER".
The latter has always had a huge love rating with the Parisian public.
And obviously it remains intact.
"And the fact of making it play behind closed doors yesterday
(Saturday evening)
is not contempt on the part of the organization, slap Hervé, who watched the match on Amazon Prime Video until 1 a.m. .
I understand that we have to distribute a poster for the night session, but if he had lost this match… ”
To read alsoFederer, a life of Roland: "It's done, I'm going to return the match ...", the point that changed everything against Haas in 2009
After having notably programmed Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal (
Editor's note: against Richard Gasquet
) or Novak Djokovic, the tournament, linked by contract to the video on demand service to offer the best poster of each day, probably had no 'alternatives for Saturday. "Federer is honest at least, he warned that he was thinking about it, he will not pretend a false injury," says Thibault. But a package without medical reason could oblige the organizers to sanction it with a fine.
“He never concealed that Roland was not his goal and that he was coming to prepare for Wimbledon and the Olympic Games,” continues Hervé, formerly classified 2nd series. He's just coming out of two knee operations, hasn't played for over a year and will be 40 (
August 8
). I find that he is not pretending, he gave everything on his match, afterwards he has to think about the next step, about his goals. We come to see him, but he is his job. Does a singer go on stage if he has no more voice? "
They qualified for the 1/8 finals of a Grand Slam tournament at over 39:
🇺🇸 Pancho Gonzales (x5)
🇩🇰 Torben Ulrich
🇭🇺 Istvan Gulyas
🇦🇺 Frank Sedgman
🇦🇺 Ken Rosewall (x7)
🇦🇺 Mal Anderson
🇺🇸 Jimmy Connors
🇨🇭 Roger Federer 🆕 pic.twitter.com/kyKXZWM8pW
- Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) June 5, 2021
Federer is due to start his grass season on June 14 with the tournament in Halle. "Did you see his game on Saturday?" Enchaîne André, 36 years old. It was a real marathon. He comes out of a long period without playing. Roland-Garros is no longer his priority since his victory in 2009. He had not come often lately (
Editor's note: he missed 4 editions out of the last 6
). But he respects the game and the public, he will only make his decision after having discussed it with his staff and doctors. "
Fan of Nadal, Jad, 14, is not shocked by this possible withdrawal either. "He's getting old, he knows he doesn't have a lot of chances of winning this tournament even if he passes the eighth, I understand his speech," says the teenager. “We all want to see him play again but it's understandable that he is saving himself for the future, he must avoid leaving the tournament tired or injured, Serge analyzes. But I'm sure he will play. »Answer in a few hours.