Roger Federer could still play at Wimbledon as Ivan Ljubicic sets timeline on decision

Roger Federer 'not the player he was' says Rupert Bell

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Roger Federer could still play at Wimbledon again, according to coach Ivan Ljubicic. The Swiss maestro has battled injury issues in recent years, preventing him from adding to his Grand Slam haul. But one last dance in London hasn’t been ruled out.

Federer made the quarter-finals of Wimbledon earlier in the year before crashing out to Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets.

In the aftermath of the defeat the Swiss star admitted he was unsure if he’d return to London for the Grand Slam again, saying: “I don’t know, I really don’t know. I got to regroup.

“My goal was always for the last year and more to always try to play another Wimbledon. The initial goal, like you know, was to play last year. That was anyway never going to happen. Plus the pandemic hit.

“I was able to make it this year, which I’m really happy about.

“Like I said, with everything that comes after Wimbledon, we were always going to sit down and talk about it because clearly now Wimbledon is over.

“I got to take a few days. Obviously we’re going to speak a little bit tonight, depending on how I feel, then the next couple of days as well.

“Then we go from there. Just see, Okay, what do I need to do to get in better shape so I can be more competitive.

“I’m actually very happy I made it as far as I did here and I actually was able to play Wimbledon at the level that I did after everything I went through.

“Of course I would like to play it again, but at my age you are just never sure what’s around the corner.”

With Federer battling injury issues over the past year, some believe he may have already had his Wimbledon swansong.

But coach Ljubicic has provided a positive update, insisting the veteran will likely make a decision in May.

“I can assure you that you must not doubt Roger Federer’s sincerity and transparency,” he told Rete Uno Sport.

“What he says is exactly what he is, it is not necessary to read between the lines.

“He says things as they are, every now and then he avoids making some details public, while in other cases, like this one, he describes the situation perfectly.

“Right now, Roger is in the rehabilitation phase.

“As he said, in January we will start physical preparation, while for tennis we will have to wait a little longer. The re-entry on the tour is so far away that we can’t sketch a date.

“There is little hope of seeing him at Wimbledon, but it’s too early to say too much.

“I believe that in May we will have clearer ideas.”

Federer hasn’t played since his Wimbledon exit.

And he’s dropped out of the top 10 on the ATP Tour for the first time since 2017.

Federer won nine of his 13 matches in 2021, losing the other four.

And whether he’s able to call upon the magic as old, to grace the court again, remains to be seen.

Speaking recently, the 40-year-old confirmed the ‘end was near’ for him in tennis.

“Even if I know that the end is near, I want to try and play some more big matches,” he said.

“That will not be easy, but I want to try.

“Let’s be clear: My life is not going to fall apart if I don’t play another Grand Slam final.

“But that would be the ultimate dream — to get back there. I want to see one last time what I’m capable of as a professional tennis player.”

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