'Meeting Roger Federer was shocking', says Argentine player

Roger Federer had a career so long as to influence colleagues much younger than him. The Swiss phenomenon, which will turn 39 on 8th August, has played only the Australian Open this year, before undergoing a double knee operation that will keep him out until the beginning of 2021. The impression is that the former World number 1 wants to hunt for another title in Wimbledon and the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In a recent interview with ESPN, Juan Ignacio Londero described Federer as the perfect tennis player, while explaining that he never considered him a real idol. The 26-year-old Argentine faced King Roger only once, in the second round of the Masters 1000 of Cincinnati 2019, when the Swiss won comfortably in two sets.

Londero on Roger Federer

"I don't have a maximum idol, but I greatly admire (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal and (Novak) Djokovic. As an Argentine, I love Del Potro, (David) Nalbandian and (Guillermo) Coria" - Juan Ignacio Londero explained. "I would like to look like Federer. He is the combination of everyone in one person. He has a brilliant head, fantastic tennis, the shots are beautiful, the best brands wear it. He is perfect," said the South American. "When I met him I was frozen, I was going to play with Nadal at Roland Garros, I was already going to the court and to go up to the Philippe Chatrier there is a ladder, I raise my head and on the platform was Roger, there I stayed with Nadal and him, the two biggest in history. Two months later I played against him, he came and greeted me, he said, 'hello, I'm Roger'. After we played, I met him before the elevator closed, he passed by and looked, and when he saw me he greeted me" - Londero concluded. Londero made his first appearance on an ATP World Tour in July 2013 when he lost in the first round of 2013 Claro Open Colombia against eventual champion Ivo Karlović. He managed to win his first tour level match at the 2019 Córdoba Open against Nicolás Jarry and subsequently won his first ATP title at the tournament, defeating Guido Pella in the final. Londero reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 50 in November 2019 and his highest ATP doubles ranking of world No. 186 in March 2020.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2A8khzu