By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 24, 2016
Rehab has been going well for Roger Federer, but it hasn't eased the sting of missing the U.S. Open.
Photo Source: Laver Cup
Speaking at Wednesday’s Laver Cup Press Conference at the St. Regis hotel in Manhattan alongside the great Rod Laver, a well-dressed Roger Federer updated reporters on his status, pointed positively to 2017, and lamented the fact that he’ll be missing the U.S. Open for the first time in his career.
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Federer, sporting a black blazer, white shirt and no necktie, looked fit. But he’s still got a lot of work to do in the weeks and months ahead to be where he wants to be.
“I have four or five month’s time to start the Australian summer with the Hopman Cup and then the Australian Open so of course I’m very hopeful, and positively confident to be quite honest, that I will be fine when 2017 comes around,” he said. “We’ll see how it’s going to go but I think that so far rehab has been going well and I’m looking forward to the next few months when I can start doing much more in the fitness room and also on the tennis court.”
Five-time U.S. Open champion Federer, who will play alongside Rafael Nadal in next September’s Inaugural Laver Cup, says that missing the Olympics stung, but missing the U.S. Open will hurt even more.
“I think Rio was actually kind of easy just because I’ve never been to Rio,” he said. “I don’t know the stadium, I don’t know the city, so I don’t know what I missed. I know that missing the Olympics and representing my country was hard, but I think the U.S. Open’s going to be tougher. I have been here ever since ’98 Juniors when I made the finals. I’ve been here every single year. All of the sudden I’m not here—I can’t play.”
The Swiss, who underwent knee surgery in February then encounted back problems and illness during his recovery, pulled the plug on his season after falling in the Wimbledon semifinals to Milos Raonic. He said he’s excited to play alongside Nadal as Team Europe takes on the rest of the world at the Laver Cup next September in Prague.
“I’m just really excited about the prospect of me being on the same court, for instance in the doubles, with Rafa. Or just supporting on the sidelines. Not that I haven’t enjoyed watching him play in the past but now I’ll be really cheering him on to rip one forehand winner after another. So for me to experience that, having Bjorn Borg as our Captain, just the inspirational figure that he is, I think it’s just amazing.”
Though being in Manhattan for the press conference was bittersweet for Federer, the 35-year-old said he was planning to swing by the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to see the site’s stunning new roof.
“At least I’m in the city for a few days so I really enjoy seeing familiar faces,” he said. “I’ll be going on site tomorrow and I’ll go see the new dome. I think it’s wonderful that the U.S. Open built that.”