Roger Federer eyes 2017 return as Laver Cup details revealed
NEW YORK — This was the year Roger Federer never dreamed of, even in his worst nightmares: A fluke knee injury, subsequent surgery, a stomach virus, a bad back and his first missed Grand Slam events in 17 years.
But the 17-time Grand Slam champion — who weeks ago announced that he was pulling the plug on his 2016 season — has one goal in mind: Get healthy for 2017.
“I never thought I would have a year like this, my God,” Federer told reporters Wednesday at the St. Regis hotel in Manhattan. “I’m happy to be in New York, but in a way it’s painful. It was hard to watch the Olympics. I would have loved to be there, thinking about representing Switzerland and the chance to win a medal. I want to be super strong when I come back.”
Federer was joined by other tennis dignitaries Rafael Nadal, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver for a press conference about the Laver Cup, which was announced in January during the Australian Open. An event styled after golf’s Ryder Cup, it will debut next Sept. 22-24 at the O2 Arena in Prague and pit Europe, including Federer and Nadal, against the world.
“I’m honored and excited about this format,” said Laver, the 11-time Grand Slam champ who won the calendar Slam in 1969, the last player to do so. “Hopefully it’s going to be a competition that lasts in the world of tennis.”
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McEnroe and Borg will serve as respective captains for the exhibition-style event, which Federer and Nadal are already to committed to (Federer’s agency is a co-founder in the event) and will include six-player teams based on rankings as well as picks by McEnroe and Borg.
“It’s a total dream come true,” said Borg, who will re-ignite his rivalry against McEnroe, in a way, as respective captains.
Federer and Nadal’s rivalry is tennis’ most well known since Borg-McEnroe. However, it has not dominated the latter rounds of the game’s biggest events in the recent past like it did in the late 2000s, including their classic 2008 Wimbledon final. With the event’s format, the pair, along with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, could all be on one team.
Nadal, Djokovic and Murray will play at a U.S. Open without Federer for the first time in their careers. The last time Federer was not in the main draw of the event was 1999.
Nadal, who turned 30 in June, is fresh off Olympic gold in Rio in the doubles event alongside fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez. But Nadal missed out on a singles medal with a loss in the bronze match to Kei Nishikori of Japan.
“For me, the Olympics was a very important event, especially after what happened with my wrist,” said Nadal, who pulled out of the French Open midway through the event and skipped Wimbledon due to a left-wrist injury. “To have the chance to win a gold in doubles — especially with one of my friends like Marc — it was very emotional, an unforgettable moment. When you go to the Olympics and you win a medal, it’s the most important thing you can do.”
Federer is still without an Olympic gold medal to his record in singles. The 35-year-old had set Rio as a target over the last four years after losing to Murray in the London final in 2012, but his knee injury forced him to officially cut his season short in late July. He also won a gold in doubles in 2008 with Stan Wawrinka.
“I was watching a lot of volleyball for some reason,” said Federer of Rio. “Medals for me have been a significant part of my life.”
Federer did not answer whether he would try for Tokyo 2020.
His most immediate focus is to get healthy. Monday he tweeted a photo of himself on the practice court and he said Wednesday that he was looking to get back into the gym full time in the next couple of months.
He’s signed up for January’s Hopman Cup — a team exhibition in the first week of the season — and then will eye the Australian Open as a full-booted return.
“I don’t see it as the end of something, I see it as a beginning,” Federer said of the injury to his knee, which required surgery in February. “I want to be as strong as possible when I come back to the Australian summer and the Australian Open.”
The Laver Cup has ruffled some tennis feathers in an already-crowded schedule. The event will feature men only to start, and will be in a weekend-long format each September, though it will not be held in Olympic years. ATP World Tour-sanctioned events could see a hit from players who choose to participate in the exhibition, though — with Federer and Nadal’s name attached — it’s hard to imagine any top player would not accept the invitation.
While it’s seen as a friendly atmosphere, prize money will be attached to results.
“I would foresee this to be a no-brainer for the players to be a part of it. Why not?” said Federer. “I would always say yes to that. The future will tell. I’m going to be there, Rafa is going to be there and I hope that everyone will take part in it.”