Motivated To Keep Playing, Federer: I Want To Come Back Strong And Give Everything I Have

Roger Federer (Instagram @rogerfederer)

JAKARTA - Roger Federer revealed April or May is the time to decide whether he can return to playing tennis or not.

The 40-year-old 20-year-old has not played tennis since being knocked out by Poland's Hubert Hurkacz from the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July last year before undergoing knee surgery.

"I want to come back strong and give everything I have," the Swiss tennis star said.

"A little update for you. I have a very interesting and important few months ahead. I think I will know more in April-May."

Federer has only played 13 matches in 2021 and will have to undergo two knee surgeries in 2020 when he has only played six games that year.

His absence saw the former world number one slip to number 30.

"I'm back in the gym again tomorrow. I'm working as hard as I can. So it's still a good time although it's a bit slow," Federer told one of his sponsors, Credit Suisse, in a video conference.

"I wanted to do more, but the doctors and everyone was kind of preventing me."

Federer also praised his partner and rival Rafael Nadal, who won his 21st Grand Slam title from the Australian Open last weekend.

"It's nice to see how emotional he is after his hard-won victory," he said of the 35-year-old Spaniard, who has also struggled with injury for years.

"Rafa told me he wasn't feeling well, now lifting the Australian Open. He's a role model, a great role model."

Federer's 20th Grand Slam title was the 2018 Australian Open.