Roger Federer all but rules himself out of Wimbledon as he also reveals his ‘ultimate dream’

Wimbledon
Roger Federer takes a break

Roger Federer is expected to be out of action until at least the middle of 2022 with the 20-time Grand Slam winner confirming he will not play at next year’s Australian Open while he is also unlikely to feature at Wimbledon.

The former world No 1 has not played any competitive tennis since losing in the quarter-final of The Championships in July, opting to undergo a third operation on his injured knee.

In his last update in September, Federer announced that the “worst is behind him” but vowed not rush his return to action.

He has now revealed that he will only be back in training in January, which confirms that he won’t be ready for the 2022 Australian Open, while he admitted he would be “extremely surprised to be able to play Wimbledon”.

“I will be able to resume running quietly in January and resume sessions on the court with complex support in March or April,” he told Le Matin newspaper. “I therefore estimate my return to competition in the summer of 2022.”

He added: “I need to be very patient and give my knee the time to heal. The next few months will be crucial.”

There was good news for his fans, though, as the 40-year-old says his “ultimate dream” is to return to action before he finally bows out.

“My ambition is to see what I’m capable of one last time. I also wish I could say goodbye in my own way and on a tennis court,” he said.

“That’s why I give my all in my rehabilitation. Then let’s be clear, my life is not going to collapse if I don’t play a Grand Slam final again. But it would be the ultimate dream to go back. And in fact, I still believe in it. I believe in these kinds of miracles.”

Roger Federer

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