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Recovering Wawrinka downplays possible Federer clash

Stan Wawrinka is not considering his possible clash with Roger Federer at the Rotterdam World Tennis event as a dramatic checkpoint as the Swiss continues his knee surgery recovery.

Published: 12 February 2018 19:57 CET

Recovering Wawrinka downplays possible Federer clash

Swiss tennis ace Stan Wawrinka. Photo: JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT / AFP

“Of course, playing Roger is something special,” three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka said on Monday in the Dutch port city as the fifth seed prepared to face an unknown first-round opponent in Dutch wildcard Tallon Griekspoor.

Should Wawrinka and Federer reach the quarter-finals this week, a Federer win into the semis would send the 20-time Grand Slam champion to the top of the ATP rankings next Monday.

“Becoming number one again would be special for Roger, like everything he's done in the past,” Wawrinka said. “He's completely amazing.

“It would be really special to see him back at number one.”

But that goal is not of concern to Wawrinka: “The quarter-finals might be an important match, but it's more important for me to focus on my first round.”

Wawrinka, who underwent July knee surgery and missed the last six months of 2017, is pleased with his recovery progress and plans to continue his European February tour as he plays three events in a row.

After winning a round at the Australian Open, he then returned to battle last week in Sofia, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion, qualifier Mirza Basic.

Wawrinka is taking his recovery slow and steady.

“A comeback takes time for sure, it was a big surgery, it takes months and months.

“So far I'm happy, I'm doing everything well, practising, playing matches, practising again.

“I'm not at my top level, I need time for that. But I'm happy to be here, I'm playing three weeks in a row for the first time in six months.

“I want to be ready for this event.

“You always want to be better and better, but there is no need to rush. The most important thing for me is the next few years, not the next few weeks.

“I don't compare my self with amazing players like Roger – it's most important for me to do the right thing for my career.”

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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