It’s a small event that confirms that time flies. At 40, Roger Federer will leave the Top 10 of the ATP ranking from next Monday. Still ninth in the world this week, the Swiss are already guaranteed to come out of the top ten places due to the qualification of Hubert Hurkacz, who eliminated him in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, for the round of 16 at Indian Wells. The Pole, who will be tenth at worst on Monday, and Casper Ruud, possibly ninth, will pass the former world No. 1.
We have to go back to January 2017 to find traces of Roger Federer’s absence in the top ten. He had then lived a truncated 2016 season, on the sidelines for several months due to a knee injury. The Swiss had however managed a thunderous comeback, winning the title at the Australian Open in 2017 and briefly regaining the place of world No. 1 in 2018.
It will be much more complicated this time. Again affected in the right knee, and operated, the champion at the 20 Grand Slams (tied with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) has not played since Wimbledon, last July. And if he has long preserved his place in the Top 10 when he has played very little this year and in 2020, it is thanks to the changes in the calculation of the ATP ranking due to the Covid-19. For the moment, Federer does not want to hear about retirement and intends to return to competition once treated, but these recent outings, especially at Wimbledon, his favorite field (8 titles), suggest that the weight of the years will be difficult to overcome. overcome.
Still, Federer’s aura does not weaken. He is still an idol, even to the youngest. “He’s probably one of the most influential players in history,” said Cori Gauff, the 17-year-old American after beating Caroline Garcia in the second round at Indian Wells. We all know Roger is the best on and off the court, the way he influenced the game, the way he acted, the way he responded and dealt with the media, the way he taught you to behave in any situation. No one can say bad things about him. “
