A few days ago, Roger Federer practically confirmed that he will not return to play before the Laver Cup. The 2022 edition will be staged at the O2 Arena in London from 23 to 25 September. The former world number 1 will also play the ATP in Basel, which will return to play after the last two editions had been canceled due to the pandemic.
The Swiss champion is still struggling with rehabilitation after yet another surgery on his right knee, which became necessary after the quarterfinals reached at Wimbledon last year. The 20-time Grand Slam champion only played 13 official matches in 2021, never managing to express himself 100%.
Fans are hoping that the King can treat himself to one last ride to end his legendary career worthily. In a recent interview, the 40-year-old from Basel congratulated Rafael Nadal on his umpteenth triumph at Roland Garros. The Spaniard has hoisted himself to 22 Majors, further elongating Federer and Djokovic in the all-time rankings.
Interviewed by the portal ‘India.com’, Mahesh Bhupathi – 12-time Grand Slam champion (four times in doubles and eight in mixed doubles) – paid tribute to Federer and Nadal.
Bhupathi opens up on King Roger
“I’m a big fan of Roger Federer, he’s a magician on the tennis court.
But the statistics don’t lie and I can’t believe the fact that he was fourteen times Roland‐Garros champion, it leaves me speechless, because I don’t think a layman understands the physicality of a victory. at Roland-Garros.
And with everything Rafa has been through, we heard him tell the media after the final that he had to have injections in his foot so his foot was numb in the last 5 or 6 games. Getting through the board and winning again is something very special” – Bhupathi stated.
Since the arrival of the big three, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, the competition for the pinnacle of the rankings has always been amongst the ‘Big Three’. Notably, for the past 18 years, either one of the three have always remained in the top two of the rankings.
While the world number 3 made a late entry to the clay-court season, he crashed out of the Monte Carlo Open after losing his very first match against unseeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Later, he lost the final of the Serbian Open against Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic will aim to do well in the upcoming Wimbledon as his participation in the US Open is still a doubt, because of Covid-19 regulations in the US.
