Federer tips Djokovic to reach former glories

– Novak Djokovic (right), back from the wilderness with an unlikely Wimbledon triumph, has even better tennis in him, Swiss great Roger Federer says.

“I think he probably still has more left in him. He’s playing well, but I think he can even play better,” Federer said in Flushing Meadows as he prepared for the start of the US Open.

Third-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro also backed Djokovic to continue his rise back from a right elbow injury – all the way back to No 1 in the world.

“I believe in him,” Del Potro

New York

said. “I know he has everything to win the first position in the world again.”

Federer got an up-close look at a rejuvenated Djokovic when the Serb beat him in the final at Cincinnati last week – a triumph that saw Djokovic complete his collection of all nine prestigious Masters 1000 events.

That hardcourt victory stamped Djokovic a US Open favourite as he joins former champions Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray in returning to the tournament a year after injuries saw them all sit out the last Slam of the season.

Federer, who at 37 has endured his share of injuries, said there’s no magic path back to the top after a significant spell on the sidelines.

“I think it depends on what kind of injury you have had or what kind of process and road you have had to the comeback,” he said.

“If you have an injury that always keeps on hurting and you’re always playing with fear of your next step or your next match, it can really rob you with your confidence in terms of movement and then you will never be the same player again.”

Britain’s former world No 1 Andy Murray, who hasn’t played a Grand Slam since losing in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year, agreed.

“All injuries are completely different,” he said. “Some are more serious than others. Someone is out for a few weeks with a muscle injury, it’s very different to somebody recovering from a surgery on certain parts of the body.”

Rather than look to other top players who have returned from injury to guide his comeback, Murray said he’s “trying to deal with the situation that I’ve been in as best as I can myself.” –