Roger Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion and tennis icon, has been out for more than 12 months. After a third knee operation in as many years, Federer had to bide his time on the side of the road to allow his body to recover. The Swiss great recently turned 41 years old, and although he announced his intention to return to the court, the process of returning was much slower than expected. Some hoped that he would return to Wimbledon 2022, while others thought that the US Open 2022. You can follow the results of the US Open live and be aware of the biggest games. Unfortunately for the tennis world in general, Roger was unable to play in the last Grand Slam tournament this year.
The Leyver Cup and the European indoor season.
Roger has committed to play the Leaver Cup at the O2 Arena in London at the end of September. He will lead the team with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud in a formidable outfit. It’s an exhibition event and its hilariousness will suit Federer’s comeback. The head-to-head competition format keeps things close to each other and should allow Roger to have some practice playing against good rivals. Roger is expected to play Rafael Nadal in doubles on Saturday night.
I’m sure Roger has the end date of his tennis career in mind, but a lot will depend on how competitive he is when he returns. After the Leyver Cup, Roger will next play with the Swiss indoors in Basel, his hometown. I have a feeling that this could be a farewell to the Swiss fans. Roger has won this tournament 8 times, but without a doubt, Federer’s expectations will decrease significantly after his return. Will we see Roger again during the European season behind closed doors, perhaps Paris Bercy if he is offered a wildcard from the French Tennis Federation?
Is the year 2023 a farewell season?
Looking at Federer’s previous tournament schedule, we can see that Roger is playing sparingly. He can play some warm-ups before the Australian Open if he goes to Australia. If he misses Australia, he could play at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam or the Dubai 500 tournament, followed by a trip around the world to play Indian Wells. A lot will depend on how well his knee will withstand the demands of the tour. At 41, his recovery will be key, will Roger be able to recover quickly enough between rounds? The next one on the schedule could be Miami, but previous experience shows that Roger does not play in Miami too often. Follow the live tennis results and follow the progress of Federer’s final.
Clay court season and self-preservation.
The European clay court season follows the spring hardcore season in North America in April and takes place in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Budapest, Morocco, Estoril, Madrid, Rome and, of course, Paris. At 41 and approaching 42, Roger would probably be better advised to avoid mud to give him the best chance of competing on grass. Will he miss a clay-court season? or we’ll encourage him a little to play at Roland Garros. The body has to be a priority above everything else at this stage of his career.
The grass court season and the jewel of the tour.
Roger Federer has a special relationship with Wimbledon. He has won the tournament 8 times and absolutely loves everything about the All England Club. Roger would be very happy to return to Centre court. Would he like to say one last “hurrah” just to say goodbye? Or would a heavy defeat tarnish his name and achievements? There is no doubt that the return to Wimbledon and to the sacred lawn of SW19 will be one of the motivating factors in Federer’s rehabilitation after this injury. In his last match, the 2021 quarterfinal, Hubert Hurkach defeated Roger in the last set of their match. Roger would be very happy to spend another day on Centre Court, perhaps to remind us all of his prowess on the grass. The first priority for Federer’s team will be Wimbledon Wild Card.