Former World No. 1 Roger Federer has spoken about his struggles with injury throughout the year and how he has had to prove to himself time and again that he belongs at the top level.
Federer at 39 is still a force to reckon with and cruised into the Wimbledon Championship quarter-final by recording a 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Lorenzo Sonego on Monday. With this win, Federer became the oldest man in the Open Era to make it to the Wimbledon quarters.
There was plenty of uncertainty entering this tournament for Federer, who turns 40 in just more than a month. Last year, the Swiss star underwent two arthroscopic right knee surgeries. Before beginning his run at the All England Club, he had only tallied a 5-3 record in 2021.
"When you're young, you don't ask yourself the question. But when you're me, with the year I had, it's all question marks all over the place. You have to prove it again to yourself that you can actually do it," ATP Tour quoted Federer as a saying. "I was willing to take losses for the sake of information, just to be out there, [to] get the body in shape for hopefully when Wimbledon comes around, that I can actually wake up in the morning and feel all right, that I can still go out and play five sets."
Monday's triumph against Sonego was Federer's 118th match at Wimbledon, where he is 105-13. This is Federer's 22nd competitive trip to the All England Club and in all that time, he has only failed to get to the quarter-finals (or better) three times.
Overall, Federer is pleased with his efforts in advancing to the last eight. Now the sixth seed will prepare to face second seed Daniil Medvedev or Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz next.
"Now I've had some good progress. I'm taking the ball earlier. Obviously, I've gotten used to the conditions, gotten used to the balls, the court speed. I'm able to take more balls on the rise, on the half-volley," Swiss said.
( With inputs from ANI )
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