Former American Tennis player Andy Roddick has expressed his disappointment after Roger Federer announced his third knee surgery. Federer has revealed that he will be out for months and he will need another surgery to be 100% fit. The Swiss Maestro had added that he had hurt himself during the Grass season.
Meanwhile, Federer could only play 13 matches in the ongoing season after undergoing two surgeries in 2020. Federer made a comeback in the Qatar Open but looked rusty. The former World No.1 then made it to the fourth round of the French Open but decided to pull out of the tourney to be ready for the Grass season.
Subsequently, Federer made it to the quarterfinal of the Wimbledon but lost to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets. However, he decided to pull out of the Tokyo Olympics due to knee issues. Roddick noticed that Federer wasn’t moving as well as he used to do during his heydays.
“He’s aware of what he was, coming back from these previous two knee surgeries,” Roddick said on the Tennis Channel. “He wasn’t moving as well. He was maybe a shadow of what we know as Roger [Federer], he wasn’t holding serve as much. “Obviously he knows it’s an uphill battle. I personally hope that he gets to come out and at least leave on his own terms.
“I don’t care if he’s as good as he once was. That’s unimportant to me at this point. What’s important is that he gets the goodbye that he wants. If he wants to say goodbye to the fans in person at a tournament, he should be able to do that.”
Federer recently turned 40 on August 8 and the rehab process is not going to be easy for him. Roddick, who was known for his potent serve, added it is horrible to see that the icon of the game is struggling with his body.
“If he doesn’t wanna be a ceremonial player or play as someone who’s less than what we expect, then he should be able to do that,” Roddick went on. “We need patience. It’s horrible to see the icons of the game go out because their bodies give out but let’s also face it, the guy’s gotten to 40, and his body’s been amazing to this point in time.”
