Roger Federer retirement call obvious to ensure GOAT status ahead of Nadal and Djokovic

Kate Middleton greets tennis fans during trip to Wimbledon

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Roger Federer is yet to decide if he will play at the US Open later this month, having not played since losing in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in July. The Swiss tennis legend, who turned 40 years old recently, stands to only damage his reputation as tennis’ greatest ever player if he continues to play in spite of mounting injury concerns and underwhelming form.

Federer revealed to Blick that his troublesome right knee, which ruled him out of most of the 2020 season, is still causing problems as he attempts to return in time for the tournament at Flushing Meadows.

Federer said: “I haven’t done anything for a long time because of my knee.

“After Wimbledon, I had to let everything sink in first.

“This week, I’ll meet my doctors and my team and then we’ll see what happens next.

“At the moment everything is still a little uncertain.”

The manner in which Federer was dumped out of Wimbledon raises concerns about what level he would be able to reach if he did play in New York, and whether or not he really has the potential to contend for championships anymore. 

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Hubert Hurkacz destroyed Federer in straight sets for the first time in 19 years at SW19, the third of which ended 6-0- only the second time Federer has failed to win a game in a set since 2000.

Such a battering may be indicative of where Federer is as a player now.

His relative inactivity combined with underwhelming results mean he currently sits 10th in the ATP world rankings.

A host of young talent has surpassed him in that list, with the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Matteo Berrettini and Dominic Thiem looking to finally wrestle dominance in the sport from the clutches of the ‘Big 3’ who have ruled for so long.

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Indeed, Tsitsipas said at the National Bank Open in Toronto that “things are changing” after none of Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic were fit enough to play the event.

However, with Rafael Nadal continuing his dominance on clay to match Federer’s 20 titles, and Novak Djokovic now also having won that amount after a ridiculous 2021 where he has won all three majors so far, the Swiss star now faces competition for the imaginary prize of tennis’ best.

With retirement surely creeping closer and closer in Federer’s mind, he may be wise to take that option sooner rather than later. 

With the aforementioned talent coming through the ranks, his own inconsistent fitness and form, and the sheer scale of Djokovic’s current dominance, any return Federer does make is likely to be laced with disappointment.

He has performed so many miracles over the years, occasionally seeming like a real life version of Benjamin Button, however to come back the wrong side of 40 and to play at the absurdly high-level we have come to expect may be one feat too far.

Time will tell if Federer does decide to return in time for the US Open, which gets underway on August 30. Thiem will be hoping to defend his crown after winning the event last year.

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