The wait is finally over. Roger Federer is back and he is itching to get back to winning ways on his most preferred surface. After a wait of 352 days, he’ll be taking the grass court at the Stuttgart Open, vying to start his preparations for that elusive 8th Wimbledon title.
Federer addressed the media after his 10 week layoff and said that he loved his time off but he is ready for business now!
Roger Federer took a calculated decision of missing the 2nd half of 2016, taking time off to recuperate from his recurring back injury and focussing on coming back on tour as a fully fit individual. And boy did the decision pay off! Federer won the Australian Open, overcoming his nemesis Rafael Nadal in 5 gruelling sets of Tennis and then completed the Sunshine double to top off one of the greatest comebacks in Tennis history.
And while the fans were hoping for Federer to continue his good run on clay as well, he took a step back, made some crucial assessments and finally opted to pull out of the entire clay season, a decision that saddened the fans, but not for one bit did anyone question Federer’s decision. And watching the way Nadal dominated the clay season, it seemed like the perfect call from the former world number 1.
Federer has now come out and said that he’ll be playing the entire second half of the season and can’t wait to get off the practice courts and finally get some matches under his belt.
“There are no more breaks now,” Federer told atpworldtour.com
“I’ve had enough breaks. I’m a practice world champion now and that’s not who I want to be. I want to be a champ on the match courts.”
“So I’m going to be playing a regular schedule for the second part of the season. And this is the beginning here at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.”
Federer then commented on Nadal’s stellar clay season and how all he needs to do right now is stay injury free.
“Obviously Rafa is in great position to finish World No. 1. For him it’s going to be all about staying injury free,” he added. “For me it’s about getting back to winning ways, where I left off in Miami.”
Federer feels that a lot of guys are in the race for the top spot and is expecting a thrilling end to the season.
