Results key factor for Roger Federer now, not age: Todd Woodbridge

 

Roger Federer has had back-to-back knee operations and recovery after that during the course of the last one year. He won’t be featuring in the upcoming Australian Open either, as he is yet to make 100% recovery.

Federer is also 39 years old right now but Australian Todd Woodbridge believes that the key factor in the Swiss’ career now the results he is going to get rather than his age.

Woodbridge, however, believes there is still a Wimbledon title left in him.

“A player of his stature, at some point when you’re not winning, you start to wonder about why you’re only making the quarter-finals, when you’re used to being in the final,” Woodbridge told Channel Nine this week.

“It doesn’t give the same adrenaline rush as it always has, and that’s when you start to think to yourself that you’ve got other things to do with your life.”

A semifinal defeat at the Australian Open last year in February was the last time Federer participated in competitive Tennis and that’s why playing in the upcoming edition will be a tricky proposition for him considering how long he has been out of touch.

He has never missed playing in the Australian Open since 1999. This will be the first time.

Federer’s fellow Swiss and former doubles partner, Yves Allegero, feels that Federer made a logical decision of sitting out of the event.

“All his career, Roger Federer only lined up if he was 100% physically,” Allegro told the 20min website www.20min.ch.

“So he made the right decision, especially since he has plenty of time left to prepare for his main goals of Wimbledon and the Olympics.”

An Olympic participation was always in Federer’s and the postponement of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic has worked out well for the Swiss. He would have missed the grand event otherwise. He should most likely participate in the Wimbledon too and winning another title will obviously be on his mind.

“For Roger to continue on, he’ll have to be able to manage his body when he does come back,” said Woodbridge, who has 22 Grand Slam doubles titles to his name as well.

“His goals, I assume, would be to play at the Olympics and at Wimbledon. Wimbledon is the major that I see him being able to win at this stage of his career,” he added.