'Roger Federer can serve as an example for me', says Top 10

Almost twelve months have passed since Roger Federer last appeared in an official match of the ATP Tour: it is specifically on January 30th, when he was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinal with the score of 7-6 6-4 6-3. Winner of six trophies in Melbourne, Roger decided to take a long break from the circuit after undergoing two surgeries on his right knee, as the Tour prepared to face the global Coronavirus pandemic that would soon require a period of rest. all activities. Becoming a professional tennis player way back in 1998, Federer has more than twenty years of Tour experience, a period in which he won 20 Grand Slam titles and 103 total trophies, second only to Jimmy Connors in this special ranking. As more and more usual for ATP and WTA players, the United Arab Emirates are perfectly suited to the off-season period, due to their favorable climate, their comfort and the numerous hard courts, used for training. ahead of the new season in Australia, which will culminate with the Melbourne Grand Slam. Roger too, like many others, has decided this year to go to Dubai, where he will try to regain adequate physical shape to play his first major tournament in a year now. The current world number 5 was seen training on the hard courts of the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek, practicing a few backhand shots. It is difficult to imagine the level of play that the Basel phenomenon will demonstrate on the pitch in February: it is true that with Federer it is better not to make risky predictions, but we must also not forget that next August he will be 40 years old and in addition to the usual rivals - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - will also have to contend with Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrej Rublev, just to name a few. World No. 8 Andrey Rublev is looking forward to seeing Roger Federer return to the tour in 2021. Rublev also believes Rafael Nadal's tally of 13 French Open titles is an inspiration to all other players.

Rublev is looking forward to seeing Roger Federer's return

Andrey Rublev made the comments in an interview with Spanish daily MARCA. "I'm really looking forward to seeing how he (Roger Federer) does it," Rublev said. "Never in history has there been a case like Roger Federer and I want to see what happens because it can serve as an example for me. I also want to extend my career as long as possible. I don't see myself retiring at 30." Despite being firmly entrenched in the top 10, Rublev still feels he needs to earn his place among the sport's elite. The Russian hopes to maintain his ranking for a couple of years so that he can be considered in the same breath as the other mainstays at the top. "I feel like I'm a top 10 guest," Rublev said. "To really feel like one of them, I have to find consistency and that means being in that position for a couple of years. It can be said that Thiem, Zverev or Medvedev have deserved to be there."

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