Roger Federer ‘hopes to be able to come back once again’ at Wimbledon

He has not played in competition since his elimination in 2021 in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon due to his injured knee. “I hope to be able to come back once again. I miss Wimbledon. I knew when I left the court last year that the coming year would be tough.”declared Roger Federer, Sunday, July 3, during a ceremony for the 100e anniversary of the Center Court.

“I didn’t think it would take so long to get back on the circuit. The knee was not kind to me”added the 40-year-old Swiss, eight-time winner on the Grand Slam turf he first walked on in 1999.

“I had the chance to play a lot of matches on this courtrecalled Federer. It’s weird to find myself here in another role. But it’s great to be alongside so many other champions. This court gave me my biggest wins but also my biggest losses. My greatest moment was entering the court in 2001 alongside Pete Sampras. [qu’il avait battu en cinq sets en huitièmes de finale]. »

Long fitness work

At his side, on Sunday, on the most legendary of tennis courts, stood twenty-three other winners of the most prestigious of tennis tournaments, from Stan Smith (winner in 1972) to Novak Djokovic (in search of a 7e trophy), via Stefan Edberg (1988, 1990), the record holder of 24 Grand Slam titles Margaret Court (1963, 1965, 1970), Chris Evert (1974, 1976, 1981), John McEnroe (1981, 1983 , 1984), Rod Laver (1961, 1962, 1968, 1969), Björn Borg (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980) and Billie Jean King (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975). Missing in particular was the record holder (nine titles) at Wimbledon, the American of Czechoslovakian origin Martina Navratilova.

“At 17, I played my very first match here and, as we had started late, the match was spread over two days. It was magical and wonderful. I knew this is where I had to be”commented Billie Jean King.

Roger Federer, in full physical reconstruction after a year without competition, hopes to still be on the world circuit next year, if his recovery goes smoothly in the fall, he explains Sunday in the Swiss daily. Tagesanzeiger. “How, when and for what, I don’t know yet. But that would be the idea”advanced the Swiss champion, questioned by the Zurich newspaper on his intention to continue on the courts in 2023, when he will celebrate his 41st birthday in August.

Read also Roger Federer will not return to competition at least until “summer 2022”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion is set to make his return to the Laver Cup, which takes place at London’s O2 Arena (September 23-25) and then in his hometown of Basel from October 24-30. The Swiss, winner of 103 trophies over his more than twenty-year career, has only played six games in 2020 and thirteen in 2021. He is currently at 97e global place.

Le Monde with AP and AFP

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