Former Roger Federer coach Paul Annacone feels that though the Swiss can win Wimbledon this year, it will be a big test for the former World No.1 Skipping the clay court season and some of the upcoming hard court tournaments, Federer is set to make a comeback during the Grass Court season.
He reached the Australian Open semi-finals recently, bowing out to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Though Federer’s return from injury is a much awaited one, his performances will be under the microscope.
However, Annacone also said that one must not take Federer’s return lightly and that he is still a force to reckon with. “He just got to the semis of the Aussie Open by the skin of his teeth basically, but he was there, and those are the moments all those greats live for,” Annacone is quoted as saying in the New York Times.
“So I’m not quite ready to write him off. And you look at his grass-court record and how unique his game is for grass, I don’t see any reason he can’t still win Wimbledon”. Annacone also admitted that Federer’s return will be an uphill one.
“The big challenge in my experience is the older you get, the harder it is to come back from anything,” he was quoted saying. “But these all-time greats are aberrations, not the rule, so you risk your own peril to predict what’s going to happen, pro or con. In 2010, when I started with him, people were wondering when he was going to retire”.
Roger Federer Says He’s Excited To Play In Boston; Laver Cup Tickets On Sale Soon
BOSTON (CBS) –Roger Federer can’t wait to visit Boston for the first time this fall. Tickets for the Laver Cup, which will feature the 20-time Grand Slam champion and other greats of men’s tennis at the TD Garden, go on sale next week.
“I’ve never been to Boston and I’m really looking forward to seeing some of the sights and playing tennis in front of their great fans” Federer said. “The Laver Cup is like nothing else in world tennis and I’m sure playing in a city that loves its sport as much as Boston does, the atmosphere is going to be unreal.”
The three-day exhibition starts Sept. 25 and will pit Team Europe, led by Bjorn Borg, against Team World and captain John McEnroe.
There’s no word yet on which current players will be joining Federer at the event. But past Laver Cups have featured stars like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on March 6 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.
There hasn’t been a professional tennis tournament in Boston since 1999.
Federer announced recently that he will be missing the French Open and other upcoming tournaments after undergoing knee surgery. The 38-year-old is hoping to return to the game in time for Wimbledon in July.
