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LONDON: Roger Federer has nothing more to prove as he aims for a comeback next year, but the 40-year-old needs to be mentally prepared for his final game, according to one of his former rivals Thomas Berdych.
Swiss maestro Federer has not played since his defeat in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in July and underwent a third knee surgery this summer, saying last month he was considering mid-2022 as a likely return date.
Inevitably, the further the 20-time Grand Slam champion is from the Tour, the more speculation there will be about the end of his golden career.
Longtime top 10 resident Berdych who retired two years ago at the age of 34 has said Federer will want to return on his own terms.
“Maybe he wants to come back on the pitch and maybe make the call and if he’s going to play his last tournament, for his huge fan base around the world, but if he doesn’t, that’s fine. “Berdych told Reuters at the Champions Tennis event in London.
“He has nothing to prove, so it’s up to him to decide how he feels and how he wants to do it at the end of the day.”
For former Wimbledon finalist Berdych, knowing when to quit was relatively straightforward.
“I just woke up one morning and it was like ‘this is it’,” said the Czech.
Although he believes Federer retains the commitment and the hunger to return to the Tour, he has said his age is against him.
“He’s going to try to prepare as best as possible and he has enough experience to know that it won’t happen in just one tournament,” he said. “But, without games and at 40, it will be very difficult to judge your level.
“If you’re in the middle of your career and you get injured for six months and do a good preparation, you know what’s going to happen when you start playing.
“But I think in this situation he has to be mentally prepared to know that it might be just a game, even if he has done everything he can. It’s not easy and then the youngsters will be there and not give him away. no favors. ”
Australian Mark Philippousis, whom Federer beat in the Wimbledon final in 2003 to start his Grand Slam collection, knows the difficulties of recovering from his injuries all too well, but believes Federer’s thirst for competition remains. intact.
“It’s the first time he’s suffered injuries and surgeries and that’s a different story, especially with the knees,” Philippousis, who also played on the Champions Tour, told Reuters.
“But he’s doing the right thing, he can’t rush it. Can he come back? The most important thing for me was to watch him at Roland Garros where there was no crowd – he plays five sets, he fights, he pumps his fists.
“It shows how much he loves the game. The passion he still has for the game is incredible.”
Swiss maestro Federer has not played since his defeat in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in July and underwent a third knee surgery this summer, saying last month he was considering mid-2022 as a likely return date.
Inevitably, the further the 20-time Grand Slam champion is from the Tour, the more speculation there will be about the end of his golden career.
Longtime top 10 resident Berdych who retired two years ago at the age of 34 has said Federer will want to return on his own terms.
“Maybe he wants to come back on the pitch and maybe make the call and if he’s going to play his last tournament, for his huge fan base around the world, but if he doesn’t, that’s fine. “Berdych told Reuters at the Champions Tennis event in London.
“He has nothing to prove, so it’s up to him to decide how he feels and how he wants to do it at the end of the day.”
For former Wimbledon finalist Berdych, knowing when to quit was relatively straightforward.
“I just woke up one morning and it was like ‘this is it’,” said the Czech.
Although he believes Federer retains the commitment and the hunger to return to the Tour, he has said his age is against him.
“He’s going to try to prepare as best as possible and he has enough experience to know that it won’t happen in just one tournament,” he said. “But, without games and at 40, it will be very difficult to judge your level.
“If you’re in the middle of your career and you get injured for six months and do a good preparation, you know what’s going to happen when you start playing.
“But I think in this situation he has to be mentally prepared to know that it might be just a game, even if he has done everything he can. It’s not easy and then the youngsters will be there and not give him away. no favors. ”
Australian Mark Philippousis, whom Federer beat in the Wimbledon final in 2003 to start his Grand Slam collection, knows the difficulties of recovering from his injuries all too well, but believes Federer’s thirst for competition remains. intact.
“It’s the first time he’s suffered injuries and surgeries and that’s a different story, especially with the knees,” Philippousis, who also played on the Champions Tour, told Reuters.
“But he’s doing the right thing, he can’t rush it. Can he come back? The most important thing for me was to watch him at Roland Garros where there was no crowd – he plays five sets, he fights, he pumps his fists.
“It shows how much he loves the game. The passion he still has for the game is incredible.”
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