After the clear end in the quarter-finals, the tennis legend's further career is once again questionable: “Where should the journey go?”
Roger Federer had hardly disappeared from Center Court when it appeared, as so often before: the question of his departure. Not just from Wimbledon, but from the tennis stage. He wants to take his time with the answer, as the record winner explained on Wednesday evening after the painful quarter-final against Poland's Hubert Hurkascz. The superstar, who will turn 40 on August 8, cannot yet imagine resigning.
The goal is to play, emphasized the winner of 20 Grand Slam titles. But in the future you can be humiliated more often than in the last sentence at 3: 6,6: 7 (4), 0: 6 against Hurkacz, the current world number eight does not want that either. “That was tough. The last few games, when you realize that you won't be coming back. I'm not used to a situation like that, especially not here,” admitted the deeply disappointed Swiss, who used to dismantle his rivals himself so often .
Analysis with his team
So shortly after the defeat, the eight-time champion did not know whether there would be a return to Wimbledon. Of course he would like to play the lawn classic again, get the ovation again and feel the affection of the fans. This year he had reached the quarter-finals there for the 18th time, but without meeting a top 20 player.
Federer announced that he would calmly analyze everything well with his team. “Where should the journey go, how should it continue? After a tough 18 months, I was already happy that I made it to the quarter-finals,” admitted Federer, who had two operations on his right knee in 2020. The healing was much slower than hoped. The original goal was to be fit for Wimbledon last summer – the lawn classic was then canceled due to the corona pandemic. Ultimately, it was just enough for this year. “I am very happy that I was able to play Wimbledon,” said Federer.
“Many things are missing”
Age, it gnaws at the once best in the business like him and 39-year-old Serena Williams, who gave up injured in the first round. “I didn't move as well as I would like, especially on the defensive,” said Federer. “There are a lot of things missing from my game that were very easy and normal ten, 15, 20 years ago. Now I have to remember to do this or that,” he said.
How things continue now depends above all on whether Federer can define a goal again, see a perspective. Wimbledon participation was such a goal. Whether it will be a trip to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which will start in just over two weeks, remains questionable. Above all, he has to be a better player to be able to compete at the highest level, said Federer.
After all: The defeat will be over in a few days, then he will be fine again, promised Federer and above all wanted one thing: to rest. After big tournaments, regardless of the result, a load first falls off, then a great exhaustion follows. “I could take a nap now,” said Federer.
