Roger Federer’s injury return has been remarkable – Tim Henman

Roger Federer serves

The way Roger Federer has returned from injury to dominate for the last 18 months is remarkable, according to former British number one Tim Henman.

The Swiss spent six months away from the sport after encountering a setback with a knee injury during his 2016 Wimbledon semi-final against Milos Raonic.

Upon his return at the Australian Open the following year, Federer was victorious, becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion since Ken Rosewall won the same competition in 1972.

And Henman believes that this is even more incredible when compared with some of his major rivals who have struggled to return to the same level post-injury.

Andy Murray has only won one match in the last 12 months, while Novak Djokovic is yet to find the same level of performances since he returned from a lay-off earlier this year.

In an interview with Express Sport, Henman said: “You’ve got to reflect on what’s happening now – Andy’s struggling to come back, Djokovic struggled to come back and Nadal has had his injury problems.

“So to take that amount of time, there was a big question mark.

“Likewise to then go straight into a Grand Slam and beat three of four top-10 players to win… it defies logic.”

Henman continued, saying that the way Federer manages his schedule is one of the main factors behind his longevity.

He said: “I think the six-month gap was excessive but I think what he does with his schedule is very clever and very smart.

“Not only does it keep him fresh physically but it keeps him fresh and eager mentally.”

 

Andy Murray Australian Open Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal Roger Federer Tim Henman Wimbledon

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