“It will be close with the Australian Open”

Roger Federer’s return is likely to be delayed. “It will be close with the Australian Open,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in an interview with SRF ahead of the “Sports Awards” on Sunday.

“I was hoping to be 100 percent in October, but unfortunately I wasn’t, and I’m not yet today,” Federer said. “I wish I was further away, but I’m still happy where I am.”

Federer only played the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier in the year in 2020 when, plagued by adductor problems in the semi-finals, he had to bow to eventual winner Novak Djokovic. He then played the “Africa Match” against Rafael Nadal in Cape Town before having to undergo arthroscopy in his right knee. A second operation followed in June.

“The next two or three months will be very important to me.”

“The second knee operation was a big hurdle, but in the last six months things have progressed steadily,” Federer said. More recently he worked a lot in the physical and fitness area, now it is about intensifying the tennis training.

The start of the tennis tour season in 2021 could be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and Australia’s strict entry requirements, which would benefit Federer. These days a final decision will be made whether the first Grand Slam tournament of the year will be postponed for three weeks and will not start until February 8. Even this date could come too early for Federer. “We’ll see,” said the 39-year-old from Basel. “But we are taking our time, the next two or three months will be extremely important to me.”

A lot of family time

The father of four enjoyed the time away from the tennis tour as he did four years ago when he also missed the second half of the season due to a knee injury with his family. “It was a really nice change,” Federer said. “We really enjoyed being in Switzerland and we were able to do a lot despite Corona’s circumstances.” It was a special moment, but also a very good moment for her as a family.