Roger Federer continues to make steady progress with his recovery following knee surgery but the chances of him playing in one of his favourite tournaments this year are slim, according to one of his coaches.
Severin Luthi provided an update on the current health of the 20-time Grand Slam champion who he describes as currently in the ‘rehabilitation phrase.’ Federer has been sidelined from action since July due to a knee injury and underwent a third surgery shortly after Wimbledon. He had the first two procedures on his knee during 2020 where he missed most of the season. He has only been able to play six tournaments since January 2020.
“He’s still in the rehabilitation phase,” Luthi told the German newspaper Tages Anzeiger. “However, it is not just about therapeutic measures such as ultrasound or ice application. He can always do more, is actively working. Not only the muscles of the knee or leg are built up, but the whole body is strengthened. It’s a real conditioning program.”
“The main thing for him is to slowly get back in,” he added.
Federer is set to return to racket training this week where he will be hitting with his wife Mirka. A former top 100 player herself, who first met Federer during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Luthi says it is important that he ‘slowly’ works his way back into the sport.
The former world No.1 is still yet to resume work with his physical trainer Pierre Paganini but the two are in contact with each other. It is understood that Paganini also shares ideas with Daniel Troxler, who is Federer’s physiotherapist.
It is still unclear as to how much longer the 40-year-old will be away from the Tour with his mentor admitting that the chances of him playing at Wimbledon are low. Even though the Grand Slam doesn’t begin for another four months. Federer has won the men’s Wimbledon title more than any other player in history and has never missed the event since making his main draw debut back in 1999.
“At the moment I don’t see how he should play in Wimbledon either,” Luthi admits. “I’m not the one who says: impossible. But I can’t imagine it right now.”
Federer last played a competitive match at Wimbledon last year where he lost in the quarter-finals to Hubert Hurkacz. He is currently ranked 27th in the world.
