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ROGER FEDERER

Federer launches bid for 18th Grand Slam

Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer begins his quest for a record extending 18th Grand Slam at the French Open this weekend with a first round tie against Slovenian world number 89 Lukas Lacko.

Federer launches bid for 18th Grand Slam
Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

The former world number one has only recently returned to the court since his wife Mirka gave birth to their second set of twins, this time boys.
   
However the unflappable 33-year-old Basel native says it's business as usual as he bids for a second title in Paris after his lone victory in 2009.
   
"I believe I might have played him (Lacko) in Australia. I'm not sure, but I know him," Federer, who is one of seven men to win all four Grand Slams, said about his opening foe.
   
"He's been on the tour for a while now. He's not totally unknown for me. I know he likes having a good rhythm, he hits early.
   
"I practiced with him several times, so I do know him. I don't think there is any secret there and I think it's good for a first round to play against a player you know a little bit."
   
Federer, who also has four-year-old twin daughters, says he is in good nick coming to Paris and the recent additions to the family haven't affected his routine.
   
"They sleep that much that I don't feel bad yet going out of the room and coming back, it's almost the same situation," he added about extending his family to four children.
   
"Clearly there is a bit more happening and there is a bit more you can do if you want to, but Mirka takes care of most of it.
   
"Of course, you know, I hold them as much as I can, but I clearly also want to go out and about with the girls. Routines are pretty much the same, really.
   
When asked if he lacked preparation on clay ahead of his first round match that could see him play Thomas Berdych in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the last four, he was serene.

"I'm not sure if I have played less than in previous years on clay, because sometimes I didn't play in Monaco," he added about his recent run to the Monte Carlo final where he lost to compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in three sets.

"Then I also had a couple of events. I think it's about what I usually always have before the French Open.
   
"It's been really solid in practice; no setbacks in matches. I'm very confident if I need to go, you know, deep in a match or play tough matches in a row.
   
"The only difference is that, you know, I didn't play a lot in the last couple of weeks . .  . 

"Playing well in Monaco was helpful in the sense that when I went to training I knew what I needed to work on. It clearly was very exciting times.
   
"For me, I feel like I'm in good shape," Federer added.

"I know where my game is at."

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ROGER FEDERER

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?

Roger Federer is talking optimistically about returning to his "highest level" after knee surgery, but does tennis have to start adjusting to a future without the Swiss star?

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?
Is it the end of the line for Roger? Photo: Martin BUREAU / AFP

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced on Wednesday that he would be sidelined until 2021 after his second operation in a matter of months.

Federer remains upbeat, tweeting: “I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 percent ready to play at my highest level.”

In some ways 2020 is a good season to miss after the coronavirus ravaged the tennis schedule. Writing Federer off in the past has proved dangerous.

He returned from a six-month injury lay-off to claim the Australian Open in 2017, winning his eighth Wimbledon crown later that year.

But he will be 40 in 2021 and is now heading into uncharted territory.

Despite his groaning trophy cabinet, there are two factors that will motivate Federer to keep going — the risk of losing his grip on the men's Grand Slam title record and a missing Olympics singles gold medal.

Rafael Nadal has 19 majors, just one shy of Federer's mark and Djokovic has 17.

Spain's Nadal will be fancied to draw level with Federer at the French Open, rescheduled for September, while few would bet against Djokovic winning in New York weeks earlier.

In April, Federer said he was “devastated” when Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. Last year he fell agonisingly short at the All England Club, failing to convert two championship points on his own serve against Djokovic.

The Wimbledon grass probably remains his best chance of adding to his Grand Slam collection — he has not won the US Open since 2008 and his only title at Roland Garros came in 2009.

Even though Federer has slipped from the very pinnacle of the game, he is still a major threat to Nadal and Djokovic.

'Golden' ambitions

Last year, the world number four had a 53-10 win-loss record and he reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January in his only tournament this year.

Federer, who is still six ATP titles short of Jimmy Connors' all-time record of 109, has one glaring omission from his CV — the Olympic title.

The Swiss won doubles gold in Beijing in 2008 with compatriot Stan Wawrinka but lost in the singles final to Andy Murray in London four years later.

The postponed Tokyo Games will almost certainly be Federer's last opportunity to complete a career “golden” Grand Slam — he will turn 40 on the day of the closing ceremony next year.

Tennis will feel the loss of the elegant Federer keenly when he walks off the court for the last time.

Djokovic and Nadal have been the dominant forces in recent years but the Swiss remains the biggest draw and last month topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-earning athletes.

His last appearance on court was in front of nearly 52,000 fans — touted by organisers as a world record for tennis — at a charity match against Nadal in Cape Town in February.

Federer is nearly always the crowd favourite wherever he plays and has proved a perfect ambassador for the sport since he won his first Grand Slam title in 2003.

He certainly expects to be back and competitive next year.

“I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season,” he tweeted.

The avalanche of support from his adoring fans showed they would miss him too, but they will have to get used to a time when he is gone for good.

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