While he will miss the US Open due to his recovering left knee, Roger Federer said on Wednesday he is working flat-out for his scheduled January return to tennis.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner, who flew to New York for a presentation of the new 2017 Laver Cup team event to be staged next September in Prague, is due to make his return at the start of the year at the Hopman Cup for Switzerland before playing the Australian Open.
“I don’t see it as the end of something. I see it as a beginning to something I’m working for,” he said, referring to his return at the Hopman Cup and the Australian Open. “That’s what I’m working for.”
The Swiss characterised his progress as positive: “I’m doing well. I’ve been training as much as I possibly could to re-strengthen my quad and my body to keep it in shape,” said the player who had knee surgery the week after the Australian Open after an innocent movement while bathing one of his children damaged his knee.
“I never thought I’d have a year like this. I’ve learned a lot from this year. It’s painful being here in New York.”
“When I head back into the gym for full-on fitness in the next couple of months, I’ll be ready for it. I just hope to be super-strong when I come back.”
Federer’s 2016 season to forget has included absences at the French Open and the Rio Games and a Wimbledon semi-final loss to Milos Raonic.