After missing most of the 2020 tennis season following knee surgery, Roger Federer targeted the 2021 edition of the Australian Open for his return. However, it appears that the 39-year-old Swiss didn’t recover enough to actually commit to playing in the tournament.
Speaking with reporters after a ceremony on which he was recognized as Switzerland’s greatest athlete in the previous 70 years, Rogers said that his rehab process isn’t going as planned.
“I would have hoped that I would be at 100% by October,” said Federer. “But I still am not [100%] today.”
Federer, who is widely considered to be the greatest tennis player of all time, explained that this setback caused him to reconsider his appearance at the Australian Open.
“It will be tight for the Australian Open,” he added. “I wish I was further along, but at the same time I’m satisfied with where I am at the moment.”
Roger Federer last played at the 2020 Australian Open, where he lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Federer previously won the tournament six times, with his last win coming in 2018.
This year’s edition of the Australian Open is expected to kick off on February 8th, three weeks later than originally planned. The adjustments were made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
