With Novak Djokovic exiting the Monte-Carlo Masters, Roger Federer’s bid to get his maiden title at the tournament has been given a massive boost. The only thing is, this week is not about winning trophies.
The 34-year-old ended his 10-week hiatus from the tour in Monte-Carlo after being troubled by an knee injury followed by illness. In his comeback tournament, Federer has already produced back-to-back straight sets wins over Spanish players Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Roberto Bautista Agut. The signs are encouraging for the 17-time Grand Slam champion as he maintains his focus on his knee and not the Masters 1000 title.
“As long as I can go into a match feeling like I’m all right, that during the match I’m not thinking about it, it’s all good,” Federer said shortly after his win over Bautista Agut.
“And even if, let’s say, it would flare up, I couldn’t play tomorrow, the deal is I have a lot of information out of this tournament”.
Speaking about his knee, Federer said that he is once again returning to his peak. Earlier this year, he underwent surgery to treat a torn his meniscus in his knee. It was the first time in Federer’s career that he has had to undergo an operation.
“I’m getting closer to the peak in the sense of maximum movement against the best players on a tough surface”. He said.
Getting back to his peak performance, the world No.3 is still taking things lightly during practice sessions. Prior to his match on Thursday, the 34-year-old said that he had a ‘quiet day’ on Wednesday. Federer also revealed that he currently has two to three doses of treatment on his knee every day.
“I’ve had treatment twice, or three times. Once in the morning to wake up, to prepare for the practice, and in the evening, and just before going to sleep. I did some stretching so that my body could recuperate,” Federer said about his treatment on Wednesday.
The knee isn’t the only test facing the Swiss player this week. Another test is how his form holds up after back-to-back matches. Federer was the first to admit that he was feeling slightly tired after his third round win at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
“I felt as good as in the first match, or maybe not as good, because I felt a bit tired. I can feel it in my body right now. I feel a bit soft, without energy,” Federer candidly admitted.
In Friday’s quarterfinals Federer will play eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The encounter will be their 17th meeting on the tour with Federer currently leading the head-to-head 11-5.
