Out of action for the rest of the year due to a knee surgery, Roger Federer has said that he hopes to be fit by the Tokyo Olympics next year.
“My goal is to play Tokyo 2021,” said the 20-time Grand Slam champion during the launch of a sneaker called ‘The Roger’, in collaboration with ‘On’.
Did you hear the news? What’s everyone thinking? #TheRoger @on_running pic.twitter.com/jwIQ6CE62V
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 6, 2020
“It’s a wonderful city. I met my wife in my first Olympics in 2000. It’s a special event for me.”
Aiming high
The 38-year-old underwent a surgery on his right knee and has already said that he will not be playing anymore in 2020.
The tennis tours are currently suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic but are set to return in August.
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“I had two surgeries and I can’t hit at the moment, but I’m very confident I will be totally ready for 2021,” he added.
The Tokyo Olympics have been shifted to 2021, and will finish on August 8, the day Federer turns 40. An Olympic gold in singles is the only thing missing from Federer’s impressive trophy cabinet. He has won a singles silver (at London 2012) and a doubles gold (with Stanislas Wawrinka at 2008 Beijing Games).
Missing fans
The US Open and French Open have also announced their dates. While the American hard-court Slam, scheduled to begin on August 31, will be held behind closed doors, the French Open is set to have 50-60% of the crowd capacity.
“I do miss playing in front of the fans, no doubt,” the ever-popular Federer said.
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“Now, I think if tennis comes back we know it won’t be in a normal way where we can have full crowds yet. So naturally we wouldn’t be able to interact with the fans like we used to, taking pictures, selfies, signing autographs.”
