2020 Australian Open was Roger Federer’s ‘last time’ in Melbourne; believes Todd Woodbridge
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Roger Federer
Six-time winner of the season-opening Grand Slam, Roger Federer decided to withdraw from the 2021 Australian Open due to his injury that kept him out of the season after his semi-final loss to World No.1, Novak Djokovic at this year’s opening Major.
Federer’s agent stated that the Swiss ace needs more time to get back to 100% fitness. However, Federer will be likely to return to the circuit in late February or March.
Todd Woodbridge, former player with 16 Grand Slam doubles titles has passed a very strong statement about the 20 time Grand Slam champion’s potential future at the Australian Open.
Quite possible we won’t see Roger Federer competing at the Australian Open again: Todd Woodbridge
Australian doubles legend, Woodbridge believes the Swiss’ semifinal loss to Djokovic last year may have been his last match at the ‘Happy Slam’, as Federer once called it.
“It’s a big disappointment for everyone, including himself, and it quite possibly means we won’t see Roger Federer competing in Australia again at a Grand Slam, which is a great loss,” Woodbridge said. “It’s a loss that was expected, but I think we all would have liked it to have come on his terms, and not by the way it’s come about,” said Woodbridge.
Federer is a family man and you will always see the man travelling with his wife and four kids at every Major he wishes to compete in. Although fitness being a major concern after a long gap from the sport, Woodbridge believes the quarantine regulations in Australia amidst the pandemic played a crucial role in Federer’s trip to Melbourne.
“The difficulty for him, I think, has been fitness obviously, but also quarantining,” Woodbridge said. “In the end that was probably the tipping point that made him decide not to come,” he added.
As Federer nears 40, recovery will be a big challenge
The world is gradually standing up against the COVID-19 and a lot of things still remain uncertain. The Aussie opined that a lot would depend on how the tennis calendar shapes up next year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At this point it’s too hard to say,” Woodbridge said. “It all rests on how the COVID schedule plays out. His goals, I assume, would be to play at the Olympics and at Wimbledon. Wimbledon is the Major that I see him being able to win at this stage of his career,” he added.
Woodbridge, who is now a TV analyst also added that if the Swiss misses too much game time he might just face recovery problems, which will pose a big challenge for the 39-year-old Federer.
“That’s the biggest challenge,” the Aussie went on. “It won’t be the first match or two, he’s so natural that he can come out and play shots and play well. It’s all about the recovery. After he’s played two tough matches, can he back up for a third? How will the body feel? Will the legs be tired? They’re all the things you find at that age,” he added.
Fans are dying to see Federer hitting those elegant strokes on the tennis court, it’s all in the hands of the Swiss legend to fulfill the wishes of his worldwide fans as 20-time Grand Slam Champion nears retirement.
Also Read: Roger Federer almost certain to drop out of Top 5 rankings after Australian Open withdrawal
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Nihar Khopkar
(191 Articles Published)