Roger Federer steps on practice court in Dubai

The 20-time Major champion Roger Federer trained at Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights tennis court on Wednesday. Roger arrived in Dubai with his family and coach Ivan Ljubicic a couple of days ago, working hard on his game and giving his best to recover from the injury in time for the Australian Open. A couple of weeks ago, Federer earned a notable award, recognized as the Swiss most accomplished male athlete for the past seven decades! Roger said he is still not fully recovered during the ceremony speech, putting the Australian Open participation in doubt. Federer will test his game in Dubai and do his best to travel and compete in Melbourne in February, although he understands it would be tough to think about a notable result after such a long break. The 39-year-old plans to hit the form again by the summer, setting eyes on Wimbledon, Tokyo Olympics and the US Open as his main targets in the season ahead of us.

Roger endured the shortest season of his career, playing only one tournament and undergoing two knee surgeries in February and May. Not wanting to rush anything, the Swiss returned to the practice court once he thought he is ready in October, embracing short runs and increasing the training pace for significant weekly improvements.

Roger Federer hit the court at Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights tennis court.

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 the home star John Millman, overcoming an 8-4 deficit in the deciding match tie break to remain in contention. Struggling with a groin injury, Federer defended seven match points against Tennys Sandgren in the quarter-final's fourth set, prevailing in five sets but losing to Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the semis! That proved to be Roger's last match of the season, as he failed to recover from the second knee surgery in May, deciding to skip the rest of the year and switch focus on 2021. Federer will kick off the new year from the top-5 after keeping the points from the previous season, giving his everything to get ready for the first Major of the season that starts on February 8.

My son just caught ⁦@rogerfederer⁩ practising at the tennis courts of Hayat Creek, Dubai. Seems Dubai is the in-place to escape #COVID19 & cold. pic.twitter.com/s597JCHzHX

— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) December 23, 2020

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