'That was the tipping point that made Roger Federer...', says legend

A few days ago the official news arrived that Roger Federer will not be at the start of the Australian Open 2021, thus missing the Happy Slam for the first time in the last 23 editions. The Swiss phenomenon, whose last official tournament dates back to the semifinal against Novak Djokovic in Melbourne, had already anticipated that he would need more time to get back to 100% physical condition. Recovery from the two operations on his right knee proved to be more difficult than expected, prompting King Roger not to take risks in view of his main seasonal goals. Indeed, it would be useless to deny that the mind of the 20-time Grand Slam champion is already projected to Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics, which could represent the latest effort of his incredible career. According to the statements of his agent Tony Godsick, the return to the field of the former world number 1 could take place at the end of February, perhaps in Rotterdam or Dubai. In a recent interview with 'Wide World of Sports', doubles legend Todd Woodbridge expressed his views on the future of the 39-year-old from Basel.

Woodbridge on Roger Federer

"It's a big disappointment for everyone, including himself, and it quite possibly means we won't see Roger Federer competing in Australia again at a Grand Slam, which is a great loss," Todd Woodbridge said. "It's a loss that was expected, but I think we all would have liked it to have come on his terms, and not by the way it's come about." According to Woodbridge, the quarantine regulations in Melbourne likely played a crucial role in Roger Federer deciding not to make the trip Down Under. Players are allowed to travel with limited support staff to Melbourne this year, and can spend only up to five hours a day outside their rooms for the first two weeks after arrival. "The difficulty for him, I think, has been fitness obviously, but also quarantining," Woodbridge added. "In the end that was probably the tipping point that made him decide not to come." With the loss of points, Federer’s best ranking after the Australian Open can be sixth and the worst ranking can be eighth. Federer is currently ranked fifth, Stefanos Tsitsipas is sixth, Alexander Zverev is seventh and Andrey Rublev is eighth. Once the Australian Open starts, all the above players will drop points, but Federer won’t be able to gain any points as he won’t be playing. So deducting last year’s points we have Federer with 5910, Tsitsipas with 5835, Zverev with 4805, and Rublev with 3939 points.

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