'Someone outside of Roger Federer, Nadal, Djokovic will...', says analyst

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer hasn't played for a year, he has been struggling for some time with a knee injury that led to two surgeries and made 2020 the shortest season of his career. At the Australian Open Roger Federer was defeated in the semifinals by world number one Novak Djokovic after two close battles and Annabel Croft, returning to that match, explained the reason for that clear defeat. The then winner of the tournament managed to beat Roger for the 27th time in the previous 50 with the result of 7-6; 6-4; 6-3 in two hours and 18 minutes. Federer tried to give his best despite an injury that obviously slowed him down, he remained in the match for the entire course of the first set. Immediately there was a sprint start from Federer, ahead 4-1 and 40-0, but the comeback of the Serbian in the key moments then closed the already residual hopes of the Swiss tennis player who had excellent results with his first service, he canceled the chances available to the great rival and broke him four times in eleven occasions. After the first set the supremacy of the number one in the world appeared even more clear, beyond what the numbers and the result said. While speaking on Wide World of Sports Radio, Jim Courier stated that Roger Federer's style of play would henceforth be dictated by how well he can move. While he is known to be one of the most efficient movers of all time, Federer has slowed down in recent years, and Courier opined that the Swiss will be left with no choice but to play an ultra-aggressive brand of tennis to keep the points short.

Courier on the Big 3's future

“It's all going to come down to where his (Roger Federer) knee is at after having two surgeries on it last year," Jim Courier said. “Is his movement going to allow him the freedom to play the tennis that he loves and that he's been so incredible at? I truly believe his racquet skills won't go anywhere in spite of not playing a tournament since last year's Australian Open.” Jim Courier then moved on to Novak Djokovic, and called the Serb the 'overwhelming favorite' for the Australian Open. The American also predicted that someone outside the ‘Big 3’ will win a Major this year. "Novak is an overwhelming favorite given how many times he has lifted the trophy and how well he played last year," Courier said. "I think throughout 2021, yes (someone outside of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer will win a Major). I don't think the old guard is going to sweep all the Majors as they have in recent years," Courier added. "But I do expect that one of the old guards will win the Australian Open on the men's side."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2M8eWhS