20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has insisted that his longevity on the Tour is linked to his own personal goals and is not influenced by others.
The 39-year-old is currently playing in his 22nd Wimbledon main draw where he has become the third-oldest man in the Open Era to reach the last 16 after beating Cameron Norrie in four sets. Pancho Gonzalez achieved the milestone at the age of 41 in 1969 and Ken Rosewall was 40 when he did so back in 1975. Norrie is only the third top 50 player Federer has beaten since starting his return to the Tour from a knee injury in March.
Bidding to win his ninth title at Wimbledon this season, the Swiss Maestro admits he has his work cut out as he labels Novak Djokovic as a favourite for the title. The world No.1 is bidding to win his third consecutive title at the tournament and sixth overall. However, Federer says the successes of Djokovic isn’t one of the reasons why he feels the need to continue playing.
“I don’t think I’m playing because he’s doing well or he’s doing great things. Same as Rafa (Nadal). I think I’m doing my own thing. I had problems of my own with the knee. That’s been the focus,” he said following his third round win.
Should Djokovic win the grass-court major this year, he would draw level with Federer and Nadal for most Grand Slam titles ever won by a male player. He already holds the record for the most weeks spent as world No.1 on the ATP rankings and has only been beaten three times so far in 2021.
“It’s just very, very impressive to see what he’s doing again this year,” Federer commented. “It’s going to be another big one for him in the coming days. There’s always danger in the draw wherever you look. At the same time he’s able to have different ways of how to win matches.’
“He’s done incredibly well in Australia, now again also in Paris. That was exceptional. He looks like the big favourite here going into whatever round he goes into. He deserves it. He’s worked extremely hard. He’s playing great at the same time, too. He’s going to be tough to beat.”
Federer and Djokovic are on opposite sides of the draw and will only play each other if they both reach the final.
The world No.8 also has some words of encouragement for Andy Murray who was knocked out in the third round by Denis Shapovalov. The two trained together heading into the Grand Slam and both have struggled with injury. Murray has undergone two hip surgeries and earlier this season was hindered by a groin issue.
Despite those blips, Federer is hoping the Brit will continue playing on the Tour for a while as he empathises with what he has gone through in recent years.
“He should be very, very happy about himself. I think he has a huge admiration from all the players for what he’s going through because that is not just some simple knee thing like maybe some others. This is major stuff he’s going through,” he commented.
“I wish him only the best. Everybody hopes he stays on tour and keeps on going,to be honest. But, of course, most of all he needs to be happy. That goes with being healthy clearly.”
Federer will play Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday.
