Tomas Berdych on Roger Federer: "Must be mentally prepared that it could only be one match"
Tomas Berdych spoke to Reuters about Roger Federer's current comeback plans. And noted that the Swiss must be aware that every match in the future could be his last.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Dec 03, 2021, 10:49 pm
The glimmer of hope that Roger Federer could actually make his comeback at the start of the 2022 season at the Australian Open did not last long. After those responsible in Down Under had flirted with a start of the Swiss old master in January, the 20-time major winner declared on various occasions that a start at Wimbledon was quite unlikely. The recovery process after another operation, said the Swiss, will take a long time.
After all, Roger Federer is already 40 years old, the end of his career hovers like the much-cited Damocles sword above every message from the 20-time Grand Slam winner. However, he in turn emphasized that he would very well want to return again. This is his firm plan, confirmed the confederate. He wants an appropriate end to his career, now speculates Tomas Berdych, who ended his career in 2019 at the age of 34: "He doesn't have to prove anything, so it's up to him how he feels and how he does it at the end of the day want to do."
"Federer has to be mentally prepared"
He himself just woke up one day and knew: "That's it," Berdych told Reuters . The 13-time tour winner hung up his tennis racket after persistent problems in the hip area. Roger Federer must now also be aware that it could be the last match at any time, the Czech explained: "I think that in this situation he has to be mentally ready to know that it can only be one game. Even if he is has done everything that is possible. It is not easy, and then the young people will be there doing him no favors. "
So it's age that plays against the Swiss, as Berdych emphasizes. "If you're in the middle of your career and you've been injured for six months and you've been well prepared, you basically know what will happen when you start playing again," explains the Czech. "But without matches and at the age of 40 it will be very difficult to judge your level," said Berdych. Who had his last duel with Roger Federer in 2018. In the quarter-finals of the Australian Open - where the 37-year-old Swiss won his last major title.