Richard Gasquet: Roger Federer would not have been ready for Wimbledon

World No. 50 Richard Gasquet says Roger Federer has been pretty lucky with his health over the course of his career and even now when he is recovering from a surgery, it's while no one is playing. 

Shortly after losing in the Australian Open semifinal to Novak Djokovic, the 38-year-old Swiss underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery -- his comeback date was set for the grass season. 

A month later, the ATP suspended the Tour due to the coronavirus outbreak and the suspension will last until at least early-August. 

Federer's first major break from tennis came only a few years ago as, after losing in the Wimbledon semifinal in 2016, the Swiss underwent a season-ending knee surgery. 

"He has had an enormous luck. He has had one surgery in his lifetime and it was during the coronavirus. Unbelievable. At Wimbledon? He would not have been well after the operation. He would not have been ready," Gasquet told L'Equipe, as revealed on We Love Tennis France.

Undergoing a season-ending knee surgery in 2016 turned out to be one of the best decisions former world No. 1 Federer has ever made. 

At the beginning of the 2017 season, the Swiss made it all the way at the Australian Open and claimed his first Grand Slam title since Wimbledon 2012. 

Six months later, Federer claimed a record eighth Wimbledon title after beating Marin Cilic in the final. 

Last year, the 38-year-old suffered one of his most heartbreaking losses ever when he blew two consecutive championship points against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2LUbl2S