Tim Henman: 'I'm eager to watch my friend Roger Federer in 2021'

Like many tennis fans, Tim Henman can't wait to see Roger Federer back on the court in 2021! The 20-time Major champion trains in Dubai ahead of the Melbourne trip, doing his best to get back at 100% and compete at the first Major of the season in February. On Wednesday, Federer trained at Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights tennis court, testing his knee ahead of the Australian Open decision. A couple of weeks ago, Federer said he is still not at 100%, needing more time to fully recover but doing everything to show up in Australia. Motivated to make a comeback, Roger will remain on the practice court if he fails to compete in Melbourne, setting eyes on Wimbledon, the Olympic Games and the US Open as his prime targets for 2021. Roger experienced the shortest campaign of his career in 2020, entering one tournament and skipping the rest of the year after knee troubles.

Kicking off the season at the Australian Open, the Swiss battled past John Millman in the third round to avoid an early setback, overcoming an 8-4 deficit in the deciding tie break to advance into the last 16. Roger had to work even harder against Tennys Sandgren in the quarters, struggling with a groin injury and facing seven match points in the fourth set. Performing a miraculous escape, Federer fended them off and prevailed in five sets, reaching the semis but having nothing left in the tank to challenge Novak Djokovic.

Roger Federer is working on a comeback after playing one event in 2020.

That proved to be Roger's last match of the season, undergoing two knee surgeries in February and May and failing to recover for the season restart, skipping the rest of the season and focusing on 2021.

Federer will try to repeat what he did after 2016, missing the second part of the year due to knee issues and starting all over in 2017. Federer was among the world's best players between 2017-19, winning three Major titles and challenging Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and much younger opponents. Thanks to his 2019 points, Federer is still ranked in the top-5, securing an excellent starting position ahead of the new year and hoping to replicate something similar in the season ahead of us. 

"I'm eager to watch Roger Federer in 2021. I mean, he's a good friend of mine and someone I've known for a long, long time, and we're all eager to see him. If and when he's ready to get back out there competing," Tim Henman said.

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