Mats Wilander - "Roger Federer can win gold"
Mats Wilander , multiple Grand Slam champion and an expert at Eurosport for years, believes in Roger Federer's chance in Tokyo.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 24, 2020, 06:25 pm
In his capacity as an expert on Eurosport, Mats Wilander does not shy away from clear opinions. The Swede, who won three individual Grand Slam titles in 1988, also likes to offend the big players. As with Roger Federer. In an interview with Kickserveradio, Wilander again put two theses worth discussing in the room.
First, the now 56-year-old commented on Federer's prospects at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Wilander assesses these positively. So far, Roger Federer has won two medals at the Olympics: 2008 gold with Stan Wawrinka in doubles, 2012 in London silver in singles. The best-of-three format suits the Swiss, so Mats Wilander said. “I've always said that in the last three or four years Tokyo 2020 could mark the end of his career. Now Tokyo has obviously been postponed until next year, but I think Roger can still win there. He can still win two out of three sets against the best in the world. "
Wilander - Federer motivated by Laver Cup
In Mats Wilander's opinion, Federer also motivates something else. “For me, it's the Laver Cup that really drives Roger Federer. I've never seen him as enthusiastic in a team competition as at the Laver Cup, certainly not in the Davis Cup. "
Wilander sees the reasons for this in the format. And another aspect. “Roger knows he can play the Laver Cup for another four or five years. There are only two sets, if there is a tie there is a champions tiebreak. He can still play doubles matches. And he is a partner in the tournament. So Roger has to be fit because, in my opinion, he doesn't want to let go of the Laver Cup. ”The next edition of the Laver Cup is to take place in Boston in 2021.