Henri Leconte wants to believe in Roger Federer
Henri Leconte , a former top ten man and now an expert on Eurosport, is hoping for Roger Federer to return to the top of the world.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 03, 2020, 08:54 pm
If the Australian Open 2021 should actually start on February 8th, then more than four years have passed since Roger Federer crowned his magical comeback after a long injury break with the final victory against Rafael Nadal in the first major in 2017. At that time, the Swiss had to deal with a strong Kei Nishikori and an even stronger Stan Wawrinka on the way to the final, in both matches a defeat was also possible.
So could there be a remake of the 2017 run in a little more than two months? The chances of this aren't too good. On the one hand, Novak Djokovic has dominated Melbourne again for the last two years (with a little wobble in this year's final against Dominic Thiem ), Rafael Nadal is strong as ever. Thiem will come to Melbourne from New York City with the experience of the first Grand Slam triumph. And the generation around Daniil Medvedev , Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev is also getting stronger and stronger.
Federer doesn't have the momentum
Of course, Henri Leconte also knows all this. But the French legend is hoping for a glorious comeback from Federer. "We want to believe it," Leconte told TennisActu. “We all want to believe it! It was a long and difficult year. Will his motivation still be there? Will this break, the fact that he was enjoying time with his family, change anything for Roger? Or will he come back with that very fresh motivation that has always fascinated us?
Federer played his last competitive match at the Australian Open 2020, losing to Novak Djokovic in three sets. After parrying eight match points against Tennys Sandgren. During the Corona break, the maestro had to undergo two knee operations. Nobody knows exactly what shape the 39-year-old will be in Melbourne.
Not even Henri Leconte. “Nobody can say that. We would all wish him to finish with a Grand Slam title. But the momentum seems to be with the younger generation, who have also added speed. I would like to believe in it. Roger did so many things that is why he makes us dream. But it's going to be very, very hard ... "