Roger Federer’s mentality going into the Wimbledon Championships will be that he can still win the tournament at the age of 39, according to his former coach.
Paul Annacone, who worked with the Swiss Maestro between 2010 and 2013, believes he will have a winning mentality heading into the grass-court major should he get some wins under his belt in the coming weeks. Federer returned to action at the Geneva Open in what was only his second tournament since returning from a right knee injury. In his opening match he suffered a shock three-set loss to Spain’s Pablo Andujar. Ending his run of 32 consecutive Tour victories in his home country of Switzerland.
Despite the setback, Annacone believes the former world No.1 shouldn’t be written off just yet. Federer currently holds the record for most Wimbledon titles won by a male player (eight) and reached the final back in 2019. Overall, he has won 101 out of 114 matches played at The All England Club.
However, Federer’s former mentor believes the circumstances the tennis star is facing is different to the last time he was on the comeback from injury. In 2016 he missed the second half of the season due to another knee problem before returning the following year by winning the Australian Open in January.
“I think this is way different from four years ago, and 35 is way different than closing in on 40,” Annacone told The New York Times.
“I think Paris is going to be really challenging for him. But if the body sustains itself and maintains good health and he gets enough reps, Roger’s not going to go into the grass season not thinking he can win Wimbledon.
“He’ll say all the right stuff, but in his heart of hearts, he knows he can win that tournament. But the less dominant you are, the more that aura of invincibility starts to dissipate just a tad, and it only needs to dissipate a tad to make a difference. The locker room antenna is up.”
Before he can think about Wimbledon, Federer will be hoping he can get some match wins at the upcoming French Open which he hasn’t won since 2009. Speaking to reporters following his loss in Geneva, Federer admitted that his chances of winning the title this year is low. Reiterating that his main goal is to be fit in time for the grass swing.
“The moment you know you’re not going to win the French Open, it can’t be your goal, at least at my level,” he said.
“So I’m just realistic that I know I will not win the French. And whoever thought I would or could win it is wrong. Of course, crazier things might have happened, but I’m not so sure in the last 50 years that the French Open, somebody just rocked up at 40 years old and being out for a year and a half and just go on, just wins everything straight or in five sets, whatever you want to call it. So that’s why I know my limitations at the moment.”
The French Open main draw will start on May 30th.
