Roger Federer goes 'Back to work' at home in Switzerland

Surrounded by a beautiful autumn nature, Roger Federer is working hard on a practice court at home in Switzerland. The 39-year-old is taking measured steps on his recovery trail, doing everything right in his training sessions and looking eager to hit the official court in two months. The 20-time Major champion has experienced the most extended break of his career, not competing since the Australian Open in January and skipping the rest of the season after two knee surgeries. The coronavirus pandemic had turned the tennis season upside down in March, locking the professional tennis courts until August and presenting a much different calendar from what we are used to having. The reduced 2020 season saw three Majors and three Masters 1000 tournaments, seeing Roger Federer only at the first of those in Melbourne. Spending time at home with his family for the last nine months, Roger had to start all over when he fully recovered from the second surgery, hitting the gym and working on his fitness, feeling no pain in his knee.

Two weeks ago, the Swiss picked up a racquet and hit the tennis court, embracing short practice runs and continuously increasing the pace for notable weekly improvements. Turning 40 next August, Roger is still excited about competing and chasing big titles against the top players, feeling he has a lot to offer in the closing stages of his glorious career. Following the previous knee injury in 2016, Federer made an impressive comeback and conquered three Majors between the Austrian Open 2017-18, becoming world no. 1 again in February 2018.

Roger Federer plans to return in January 2021.

Roger claimed four ATP titles in 2019 to finish inside the top-3 behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, missing a chance to conquer the ninth Wimbledon crown after wasting two match points against Novak. Kicking off the 2020 season at the Australian Open, Roger battled hard against John Millman and Tennys Sandgren to reach the semi-final.

Struggling with a groin injury, Federer saved seven match points against the American in the quarter-final's fourth set, prevailing in the decider but having nothing left in the tank ahead of the next clash! In the semis, Novak Djokovic defeated Roger in straight sets, marking the season's final official match for the Basel native. After the record-breaking Cape Town encounter with Rafael Nadal on February 7, Federer underwent knee surgery, planning to return in June for Halle and Wimbledon on his beloved grass. Roger failed to take the pain away and underwent another surgery in May, sidelined for the rest of the season. Keeping those points from 2019, Federer should start the new season from inside the top-5, hoping to reach his pre-injury level as promptly as possible.

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