20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer says he is on course to return to competitive tennis at the start of next year but is still restricted with how much practice he can do.
The 39-year-old hasn’t played on the Tour since his semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January. Since then, he has undergone two arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee. A minimally invasive procedure on a joint in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage in the knee is conducted. The second procedure was conducted after he failed to achieve the desired results from his first.
Providing an update on his current health, Federer has confirmed that he is hoping to be fit in time for the next Grand Slam at Melbourne Park which will take place during the first month of 2021. It will be his 22nd main draw appearance at the Australian Open which he has won six times. The tournament is also the place where he last won a major title back in 2018.
“I’m on the right track,” Federer told magazine Schweizer Illustrierte.
“I’m gradually coming back but I’m going to take my time and don’t want to put any pressure on myself. I will only take part in a tournament when I am 100% fit.
“At the moment, it looks like I can make my comeback at the Australian Open in January.”
The recovery process is still ongoing for the former world No.1 who says he is currently only able to train for a maximum of two hours. It is unclear as to when he will increase his workload but Federer has confirmed that he will not need any further operations in the coming weeks.
“Not yet, more than two hours with the racket are not possible at the moment,” he said.
“But I’ve been working on my stamina and strength absolutely without pain for a while. There will be no further operations.”
Whilst he currently has no intention of walking away from the sport in the near future, Federer has shed some light on what he would like to do when he does eventually retire. He is currently one of two players ranked in the top 100 aged 39. The other is Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. Overall, Federer is the sixth oldest player to have an official ATP ranking.
“I have been thinking about these ideas for about five years. But as long as I have fun and it’s right for all of us, I’ll keep going,” the world No.4 explains.
“After that, I will focus on my family, my foundation and my sponsors. I am very interested in business ideas and entrepreneurship. But I definitely don’t want to plan everything now.”
Federer has won 103 ATP titles during his career in what is the second highest tally in history after Jimmy Connors. He has spent a record 310 weeks as world No.1 and is tied with Rafael Nadal for most singles Grand Slam titles ever won by a male player.
