Roger Federer Faces New Challenges Upon Return from Injury
Uncertainty filled the air as Roger Federer stepped onto the red clay of Monte Carlo for his second-round match with Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
A little over an hour later, he walked off the court a 6-3, 6-4 winner. You'd hardly know the Swiss maestro was playing his first match in over two months based on that commanding performance.
He couldn't ask for a better welcome-back party—not even the clay could slow him down.
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Requiring surgery for a torn meniscus, which he suffered after his semifinal loss at the Australian Open, Federer spent February and March recovering and plotting his return. While a virus derailed his plans to participate in Miami, he packed up his trusty Wilson blades and Nike shoes for a trip to scenic Monte Carlo.
He wasted no time alleviating doubts about his form. Showing few signs of rust against Garcia-Lopez, the world No. 3 displayed aggressive footwork and his usual attacking mentality. His movement didn't look to be hampered much (if at all), as he gracefully roamed the baseline and smoothly transitioned to the net.
With his serve clicking and pushing his opponent off the court, Federer stayed on the offensive and kept points short—perfect for a body on the mend. Even a brief lapse at the end of the second set wasn't enough to deny him a routine victory.
"Tennis with a view 😎⛰ pic.twitter.com/0pyzbZos2C
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 11, 2016"
By winning his first match back in such impressive fashion, Federer answered an important question. But more remain.
The most important thing for him in the short term is how his knee will respond to an increased workload. Should he keep progressing through the draw in Monte Carlo, Federer may wind up playing several matches in just a few days. Still fresh off surgery and rehab, we'll see how his 34-year-old frame stands up to that wear and tear.
Now that defending champion Novak Djokovic has been sent packing from the tournament, four-time runner-up Federer sees an opportunity to finally take home the Monte Carlo title. If his body's willing, his mind is certainly able to take advantage of an unexpected (but realistic) shot at the crown. How far he ultimately goes this week could impact his schedule before the French Open.
So will he play in Madrid or Rome?
"I have to wait and see how my knee and my body react," Federer told USA Today (h/t Associated Press). "I have to see what I feel I still need to work on. Is it recovery? Is it training? Is it something specific? I don't know yet. I will know more in two weeks. Then I can decide."
Taking things cautiously and not overcommitting himself is a wise move. The truth is even Federer doesn't know for sure how he'll respond physically in the coming days, though he sounds confident that he's close to 100 percent.
One positive from Federer's extended time off is that he should theoretically have plenty of energy stocked up for an action-packed summer. Wimbledon will forever remain the crown jewel on his calendar, but he's also staring down a run at Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro. Maybe the scheduling changes brought on by his surgery will have him peaking at those events rather than before.
His love-hate relationship with clay aside, the coming weeks will be crucial for Federer in terms of giving himself the best opportunity at grabbing an 18th Grand Slam and a gold medal. The reality is he needs to perform well on the dirt.
In a heated race with Andy Murray for the No. 2 ranking, that honor brings something more valuable than pride: the ability to avoid facing Djokovic until the final of an event.
Despite his surprise defeat in Monte Carlo, Djokovic is still in a league of his own. When he loses a single set, let alone a match, it's as if the earth has stopped spinning on its axis. Odds are that he'll quickly shake off this week and be ruthlessly motivated to make amends.
At Roland Garros, Djokovic is eyeing his first championship and the culmination of a career Grand Slam. He'll be like a freight train rolling through Paris toward his intended destination on the podium. Avoiding him in the draw for as long as possible therefore seems like a smart tactic for self-preservation.
Federer and Murray will duel for that right this clay-court season. While the latter holds a slim 120-point lead in the rankings, Federer is defending only 700 points until the French Open. For Murray, his total is nearly double at 1,340.
Looking beyond Paris, where his expectations may be tempered, locking down that second spot in time for Wimbledon will be vital for Federer and could prove a difference-maker in his quest to win another major.
But first things first: Federer still needs to survive Monte Carlo without any setbacks. Once Federer has a few more matches under his belt, then we'll be able to better assess his form and prognosis.
If he keeps playing as brilliantly as he did against Garcia-Lopez, there won't be much to worry about.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
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