Rafael Nadal: 'Roger Federer will make a strong comeback but I don't know..'

In February, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal wrote record books in Cape Town, becoming history-makers like many times in the past. As a part of the Match in Africa 6, Roger and Rafa battled at the Cape Town Stadium in front of the crowd of 51,954, setting a new world record that will take some beating in the years to come! Instead of new battles in the upcoming months, Roger and Rafa were sided from the court from March due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the Swiss hasn't played after this Cape Town clash. Nadal claimed the title in Acapulco just before the pandemic, returning to the court in September and lifting the 20th Major crown to match Federer's record a few weeks ago. On the other hand, Federer underwent two knee surgeries, playing only one tournament in Melbourne and hoping for a fresh start in January 2021. Asked about Federer, Nadal said he is happy to see Roger back on the practice court, having no doubts that the Swiss will make a strong comeback.

Still, the Spaniard is unsure about Roger's level, as he can't predict even his form in 2021. Federer has hit the practice court at home in Switzerland, working hard on a comeback that should happen in January. The Swiss has played only one tournament in 2020, losing in the Australian Open's semi-final and calling it a season after two knee surgeries. In the third round, the Swiss trailed 8-4 in the deciding tie break against John Millman, taking six straight points to pass a challenging obstacle and move forward. Struggling with a groin injury, Federer had to play against seven match points against Tennys Sandgren in the quarter-final's fourth set, fending them off to prevail in five sets and enter the last four!

Rafael Nadal believes Roger Federer will make a strong comeback in 2021.

In the semis, Novak Djokovic beat Roger in straight sets in what has been the final official match of the season for the Swiss. After the record-breaking Cape Town encounter with Rafael Nadal at the beginning of February, Federer underwent knee surgery, planning to return in June for the grass swing in Halle and Wimbledon. Roger had failed to kill the pain, undergoing another surgery in May and preferring to skip the rest of the season and get ready for a fresh start in 2021.

"I see that Roger is already training, and I think he will come back quite well. How far can it go? Well, we can't know that. I don't know how I'm going to perform next year, let alone Federer. These days we often hear from each other; obviously, we discuss the tennis players' advice and critical situations. Today's situation is challenging, we have to find a solution given the current times, and I have to say that lately, we have been talking regularly," Rafael Nadal said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3mEjf0R