The last semblance of suspense was lifted this Sunday afternoon.
As he strongly suggested after his 3:35 marathon against the German Dominik Koepfer on Saturday, in the sidereal void of the night session, Roger Federer preferred to withdraw from Roland-Garros before his round of 16 scheduled for Monday against the Italian Matteo Berrettini.
After the withdrawal of world n ° 2 Naomi Osaka on May 31, it is a second shock for the tournament ...
1. Why did he give up?
“After two knee operations and more than a year of rehabilitation, it is important that I listen to my body and that I do not go too quickly in the return to competition, justifies the Swiss. I am delighted to have won three games. There is no better feeling than being back on the pitch. At almost 40 years old, the former world No. 1 knows himself by heart and has always been able to manage his schedule and his physical preparation to the millimeter. The secret of longevity. After a defeat in Geneva for his return to earth, the Bâlois needed sets and benchmarks. He found them beyond all hope in Paris.
“I took information for the rest of the season, he sums up.
Why take a risk that I don't have to take?
What is the objective of the season?
This is not the title at Roland Garros.
Federer had been frank about the usefulness of the season on earth.
He has enough certainties about his condition and it is not necessary for him to go and confront Berrettini.
His only mission is to be ready for Wimbledon, which he has won eight times and which begins on June 28.
Probably the last quest accessible in Grand Slam.
In a week, he will be on the turf in Halle.
You also have to enjoy the family a little.
So, we might as well not drag on in the Parisian health bubble ...
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2. Should we blame him?
Can we afford everything because our name is Federer? Among the fans, opinions are divided. The choice of King Roger resembles the fact of the prince, considering the tricolor middle finger as a vulgar test of preparation. “It's contempt for the tournament, Thomas slips. When we get involved, it's to go as far as possible. And victory is always the best preparation. It doesn't match the image I have of him. "
Okay, the man with the 20 Grand Slams has seen it all.
All lived.
Everything or almost everything.
He defies the laws of old age and continues to fill stadiums and hearts.
Just for the love of the game. "I love tennis," he repeated on Saturday night.
But there can rightfully be a feeling of understatement and frustration.
An injustice in relation to the course of the competition, that his departure will perhaps distort.
“At least he's honest, says Hervé.
He is not pretending, he gave everything on his match, then he has to think about the rest, 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?
"
3. Will we ever see him again in Paris?
The winner of Roland-Garros 2009 may have definitely left Porte d'Auteuil with a victory. While he left the doubt on the rest of his career beyond his summer ambitions (Wimbledon and Olympic Games), it is difficult to see the current No. 8 at ATP coming back down to earth in a year. Unless you imagine a well-orchestrated farewell tour. The counter is therefore likely to remain blocked at 90 matches (including 73 wins).
Higher on the Seine, the Helvète had already accustomed Guy Forget, director of the two Parisian tournaments, to fail at Bercy at the last minute because of his precious ATP 250 from Basel, which takes place the previous week. "But he winked at me when he left and said
, hey, Basel was canceled this year,
" Forget said. His Majesty may not have bowed out to the capital yet ...