Roger Federer in ‘race from time’ to be in good shape for Australian Open

Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam winner from Switzerland, has not performed aggressive tennis since a straight sets defeat to entire world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of this year’s Australian Open in January.

He has considering that experienced two rounds of surgery on his ideal knee but it was expected he would be completely ready for the begin of the 2021 year.

Federer, a six-time champion in Melbourne, admitted the predicted delay of the match by a couple of weeks would give him much more of a prospect, but explained it will nonetheless be ‘tight’.

‘I would have hoped that I would be 100% in Oct. But I am even now not right now. It will be restricted for the Australian Open,’ Federer said at an awards ceremony in Switzerland.

‘It’s a race against time for the Australian Open. I’m curious to see irrespective of whether it will begin on February 8. Of class, it would enable if I experienced a little bit far more time.

‘The next knee operation was a big damper, but in the final six months there has been continuous progress.

‘Let’s see how the subsequent two months will unfold. I have been accomplishing a ton of physio and actual physical perform recently, now let’s see how tennis is carrying out.’

Federer – who has been aspect of the Australian Open up main draw in each and every year due to the fact 2000 – will change 40 in August and stated his priorities will lie at Wimbledon, the US Open up and the Tokyo Olympics.

A gold medal in singles is the most important prize to have eluded Federer, who was named the finest Swiss athlete due to the fact 1950, through his illustrious vocation.