With the No.1 position firmly in sight, Roger Federer refuses to relish in the fact that some of his biggest threats have already ended their season due to injury.
This week’s Canadian Masters will be without three out of the world’s top-five players. Novak Djokovic has ended his season to fully recover from an elbow injury, US Open champion Stan Wawrinka is set to have surgery on his knee and world No.1 Andy Murray is still trying to recover from a hip problem.
“I hope it’s not going to continue like this, where everyone takes the second part of the season off. Novak and now Stan, who might need to have surgery. Cilic too and the same with Andy. I hope that when they come back, they will be in very good form and when Novak and Stan return next year that they will be in good shape.” Federer told reporters on Sunday.
Federer knows all too well what it is like to be hampered by injury. Last year he ended his season after the Wimbledon championships following a knee injury. It was the longest period the Swiss 35-year-old has ever spent away from the tour. Now two of his rivals are going through a similar scenario, Federer is hoping that he hasn’t started a trend on the men’s tour.
“I don’t like to see it, but If you think about it, like I explained before, If you take three or six months off in a 15, 20-year career, it’s maybe isn’t that much. But it is hard to see at that moment.”
During his absence, Federer partly credits his positive thinking for his successful comeback. This year he has risen up to third in the world after winning four titles, including both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. This time last year he was watching tennis from the sidelines, uncertain about what the future will bring. Now he is a primary contender to end the season as world No.1.
“I remembered last year when I was looking at taking six months off after already taking two months off earlier in the year. It seemed like it was not possible to take this much time off.” Federer reflected.
“It was a hard decision, but sometimes when you have no choice it makes it easier. It’s just a matter of staying positive in those difficult moments.”
Federer will return to action on Wednesday when he will play his first match at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. For the first time since the 2011 Monte Carlo Open, he and Rafael Nadal will be the top two seeds in a Masters 1000 tournament. Federer will be bidding to win a third Canadian Masters title, but the first in Montreal. The Rogers Cup alternates between Toronto and Montreal every year.
“I see a soul in the tournament. I see a soul in centre court.” The second seed said about playing at the Uniprix Stadium.
Turning 36 tomorrow, Federer will play his first match at the Rogers Cup against either Vasek Pospisil or Peter Polansky.
