Roger Federer: 'Training indoors in the cold is not exactly ideal'

Roger Federer has chosen Dubai to refine his preparation for next season, which may not start with the Australian Open. During the Laureus Awards ceremony about a week ago, the former world number 1 confided that he was not yet 100% fit and that his return to the field could slip again. The 39-year-old Swiss hasn't played an official tournament since the 2020 Happy Slam, where he surrendered to future winner Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. The Basel legend underwent two surgeries on his right knee, one in February and the other in June, choosing to close his 2020 prematurely. The initial goal of the 20-time Grand Slam champion was to be ready for the beginning of 2021, but - also due to the strict measures imposed by the Australian government - Roger could still take a few months. In fact, his big goals of the season will be Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open, in what will perhaps represent the last major effort of his extraordinary career. Thanks to the new ranking system induced by the global pandemic, Federer has retained a place in the Top 5 (he would have sunk to number 29 without the two-year ranking). In any case, the impression is that we will have to wait longer than expected to see him in action again.

Federer is currently in Dubai

"We'll be back in Dubai then. We've only celebrated here (in Switzerland) since we had children," Roger Federer said when asked where he would be celebrating Christmas. "That was very nice, but also cumbersome, and from here the way to Australia is even longer. I really have to fully test my knee on the tennis court," the Swiss added. "With the hope that maybe I'll have enough at the Australian Open. Training indoors in the cold is not exactly ideal. But we're just at home wherever the family is." The Swiss, who holds 6 Australian Open titles, however, said that the deferment of the event would give him a 2-3 week window to work on his fitness and even make himself available for the Major. Federer said he had hoped to regain full fitness by October, but his recovery is still behind schedule. He added that he is not willing to rush back into action and will return only when he feels ready. Tiley said that Federer told him that February 8th would be a more agreeable date for him to play the Australian Open. “He said to us that February 8 was a more suitable date for him in terms of preparing for the Australian Open,”  the CEO of Tennis Australia said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3riIB7q