The Swiss master’s astonishing return has proved that longevity is still possible at the top of the game if you manage your schedule and know your body’s limitsRoger Federer’s decision to abandon the Tour for two months while playing tennis that stands favourable comparison with his golden years is a stark challenge to the game’s administrators to end the grind of a schedule that is pushing players to breaking point. As he said after winning his third title of the year, his second Miami Open and the 91st title of his career: “The body needs a break, the mind needs a break.”It was his 20th match of the season after returning from an enforced six-month rest to heal knee surgery...
Few expected the 35-year-old to win the Australian Open after his injuries but he has been on stunning form since and a more relaxed attitude has helpedTwo comeback kids met in Miami and played a very fine match of tennis this week. One was Juan Martín del Potro, the lanky, lugubrious Argentinian who has suffered two career-threatening wrist injuries. Since returning last year, after a two‑year hiatus, he narrowly lost to Andy Murray in the Olympic final and led Argentina to their first Davis Cup win.His is an uplifting story of triumph over adversity, stalwart determination in the face of debilitating physical and psychological setbacks. He played beautifully this week, with his elegant backhand slice and his thunderous slap of...
The Swiss player won a thrilling Australian Open final but would have been happy to ‘accept a draw’ against another wonderful ambassador for tennisRoger Federer’s claim to greatness has never been in question, not even in the five years since he won his 17th grand slam. However, his right to be regarded as peerless in the history of his sport was cemented beyond argument when he drew four majors clear of the 14 Rafael Nadal shares with Pete Sampras by defeating the Spaniard in an Australian Open final to rank alongside the best of the nine in which they have now contested a slam title. Related: Roger Federer eyes Wimbledon success after Australian Open triumph The triumph belonged not only...
The Swiss will rarely have had to fight harder than he did to subdue Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open semi-final and become the oldest man to reach a grand slam final since 1974, yet he did so with grace and panacheIt was as nailed-on that there would be a Swiss player in the men’s final of the 2017 Australian Open on Sunday as it was that an American would win the women’s title on Saturday. The odds that their combined ages would be at least 70 were a little tougher to see at the start of the fortnight but it crystallized into stunning reality here on the 11th day of a tournament that has had more twists than the...
The 35-year-old Swiss was seeded to meet the world No1 in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open but now Sunday’s final beckonsIt may ease Andy Murray’s pain to learn that Roger Federer is sure the Scot can win the Australian Open one day – except not on his day, not on Sunday when, against all expectations, the Swiss could now be taking Murray’s place in the final. Related: Roger Federer beats Kei Nishikori in epic five-set Australian Open match Related: ‘It’s just tennis’ – Andy Murray’s words after shock Australian Open loss Related: Andy Murray crashes out of Australian Open to inspired Mischa Zverev Continue reading...