Roger Federer eyes Wimbledon, Olympic Games and US Open on his comeback trail

A couple of days ago, Roger Federer earned a notable award, recognized as the Swiss most accomplished male athlete for the past seven decades! Federer said he is still not 100% ahead of the new season's start during the ceremony speech, putting the Australian Open participation in doubt. The 20-time Major champion will give his best to travel and compete in Melbourne in February, although he understands it would be tough to chase the title after such a long break. The 39-year-old will try to get at his best by the summer, setting eyes on Wimbledon, Tokyo Olympics and the US Open as his main targets for 2021. The reduced 2020 season saw three Majors and three Masters 1000 events, with the crowd favorite Roger Federer competing at only the first in Melbourne in January. The 20-time Major champion endured the shortest season of his career, playing only one tournament and undergoing two knee surgeries in February and May.

Spending time with his family during the coronavirus pandemic, Roger started all over when he recovered from the second surgery, hitting the gym and working on his fitness. Not wanting to rush anything, the Swiss returned to the practice court once he thought he is ready, embracing short runs and increasing the training pace for notable weekly improvements.

Roger Federer hopes to get back at 100% by the summer.

Federer will try to repeat what he did in 2017, missing the second part of the previous season and returning at his best to claim the first Major titles since 2012! Roger won four ATP titles in 2019 to finish inside the top-3 behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, opening the 2020 season with his 21st Australian Open campaign. In the third round, Federer had to work hard against John Millman, overcoming an 8-4 deficit in the deciding set's tie break to remain in contention.

Struggling with a groin injury, Federer fended off seven match points against Tennys Sandgren in the quarter-final's fourth set, prevailing in the decider but losing almost all the energy! In the semis, he made a great start against Novak Djokovic before the Serb bounced back to notch a straight-sets triumph, ending Roger's run in the last four in what was his final official match of the season. After the record-breaking Cape Town encounter with Rafael Nadal, Federer underwent knee surgery in February, planning to return in June for Halle and Wimbledon on his beloved grass. Roger failed to take the pain away, undergoing another surgery in May and deciding to skip the rest of the season and focus on 2021. Federer will kick off the new year from the top-5 after keeping the points from the previous season, hoping to get ready for the Australian Open in February.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/37nJR1h