FEDERER SAYS HE’LL BE READY FOR ‘A VERY IMPRESSIVE’ DJOKOVIC
LONDON—There are very few things that Roger Federer has not excelled at during a career spanning more than two glorious decades.
So when he failed to understand an English saying during an on-court interview at Wimbledon this week, he surprisingly declared: “I don’t understand ... my English isn’t good enough.”
However, when it comes to the language of tennis, no one demonstrates it more elegantly or gracefully than Federer.
The silky racket skills have earned him 20 Grand Slam titles but, with the last of those coming at the 2018 Australian Open, Federer has seen that record haul equalled by Rafael Nadal with Novak Djokovic on the verge of pulling level.
The Swiss came agonizingly close to taking his slam tally to 21 at Wimbledon two years ago, when he missed two championship points before losing to Djokovic in a fifth-set tiebreak.
But Federer dismissed suggestions that the success of his rivals is forcing him to prolong his career.
“No, I don’t think I’m playing because he’s (Djokovic) doing well or he’s doing great things. Same as Rafa. I think I’m doing my own thing,” said the Swiss great, who has barely played for the last 18 months after undergoing two knee surgeries in 2020.
“I had problems of my own with the knee. That’s been the focus,” added the 39-year-old.
Djokovic, 34, is halfway toward becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam, the Serbian has made no secret that he wants to collect as many records as he can before his career is over.
If he claims his sixth Wimbledon title on July 11, Djokovic will not only join Federer and Nadal on 20 majors, he will also have the chance to become the first man to complete the Golden Slam should he triumph at the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open.
“It’s just very, very impressive to see what he’s doing this year,” added Federer.
The two could meet again in the final and, should that happen, Federer believes the trials and tribulations he faced during the first three rounds is just what he needs to get ready, having spent more time in rehab than playing competitive matches in recent months.