'At the time Roger Federer probably had the best forehand in the world', says legend

After two operations on his right knee and a whole year spent more in the infirmary than on the playing fields, Roger Federer prepares to become a protagonist again. The former number one in the world rankings is training for the Geneva tournament, scheduled for May 16. On his Instagram profile he showed a video in which he stepped up his workout. The goal is to get back in shape at the most prominent of Roland Garros, but above all for Wimbledon (won eight times in the past) and the Tokyo Olympics, where he aims for the gold medal. Federer underwent surgery on his right knee in February 2020 after the Australian Open. Then the break due to the pandemic, a new joint cleaning operation in June and the long rehabilitation. In March the return to the field in the Doha tournament (elimination in the second round by Basilashvili), then a new break. No Madrid and no Internazionali d'Italia. "Gearing up for Geneva", the writing that accompanied the video posted on the social networks Roger will open his two stages on clay right from the home tournament in Geneva, to then play the Roland Garros. In that context, former World No. 1 and Career Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi recently gave his thoughts on the difference between the Next Gen and the Big 3. According to Agassi, the younger players have shown a lot of respect to the legendary trio, and that has hurt them.

Roger Federer will play the Geneva Open

"The next generation is on its way," Andre Agassi said during an appearance on the 'The Ranveer Show' podcast. "You look at Zverev, you look at Thiem. I mean, these guys, I think they realise now that they can't afford to respect the Big 3 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) as much as they have been. Roger Federer, for example, I mean, I played him in the finals of 2005 US open and there was no safe place on the court," Agassi said. "At the time he probably had the best forehand in the world. He always aced Roddick more than Roddick aced him. So you have to give his serve credit; you have to give his return credit; his movement was a joke; his hands at the net were a joke; the versatility (was such) that he might have had five things individually better than everybody else on tour." The American further likened Roger Federer's abilities on the court to a golfer that could do it all. "You know it's like a golfer who leads in fairways, hits greens, and can putt," Agassi said.

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