Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer played his last match in the semifinal of the Australian Open against Novak Djokovic. The Swiss legend won two-back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
Federer lost the match against his Serbian rival in three sets. He underwent two surgeries on his right knee. He recently admitted that he has not decided yet whether he will play in Melbourne as he hasn’t fully recovered from his knee surgery, but he sent a message of hope to his supporters after receiving the ATP Fans Favourite Award for the 18th consecutive year.
Tennis Australia Craig Tiley said that all players, including Federer, have committed to take play in Melbourne.
“Thanks to ATP, to all the tennis fans out there voting for me, believing in me and wanting to see me back on the tour. I am training hard, making that possible and I hope I can play in front of all of you guys very soon. Let’s hope it all gets better next year”, said Federer.
Federer will renew his historic rivalry against against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic claimed the eighth Australian Open title of his career and his second consecutive trophy last year beating Dominic Thiem in five sets last year. The world number 1 has a 75-8 record and a perfect 8-0 record in finals at Melbourne Park.
Nadal won the 2009 Australian Open final beating Roger Federer and reached four finals. The Spaniard lost to Federer in an epic five-set final in 2017.
The other contenders for the title are Danil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem, who played the title match at the ATP Finals last November.
Dominic Thiem lost the Austalian Open final last January, but he pushed Novak Djokovic to the fifth set. The Austrian player bounced back by winning his first Grand Slam title against Alexander Zverev in five sets. The world number 3 reached two more Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2019.
Danil Medvedev won the biggest title of his career last November beating Thiem in three sets in the ATP Finals title match. The Russian player reached the biggest result of his career when he finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal in the 2019 US Open final. He won three Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Shanghai in 2019 and Paris Bercy in 2020.
Federer revealed that he has not practiced the piano regularly but he hopes that he will play the instrument when he retires. He feels proud that his daughters play the piano very well.
“Il would like to play an instrument again. Hoepfully when I stop playing tennis I will have time. I used to play the piano. Every week at the piano lesson I had to explain why I hadn’t practiced any more and said: That’s tennis. I think it’s nice that the girls play, they do it pretty well. I am proud of them”, said Federer.
