Roger Federer targets Australian Open for injury comeback

25 August 2016 08:50

Roger Federer wants to be fit and firing again at next year's Australian Open after missing the second half of this season through injury.

Federer has chosen to sit out the rest of 2016 in order to recover fully from his knee surgery in February, as well as a back problem that ruled him out of the French Open in May.

The 35-year-old's last match was his semi-final defeat to Milos Raonic at Wimbledon and, as well as the Olympic Games in Rio, he has dropped out of the US Open, which starts on Monday.

"It was a tough decision to say the least, but in some ways a simple decision because your health is the most important thing," Federer told national newspapers.

"I don't see it as the end of something, it's the beginning of something. When I come back to the Hopman Cup and then to the Australian Open - that's what I'm working for now."

Federer did travel to New York for the launch of the Laver Cup on Wednesday, a new team event to be played between Europe and the Rest of the World, starting in Prague in September next year.

The Swiss has signed up to the competition, along with world number five Rafael Nadal, and believes he will come back stronger in 2017.

"I'm doing well and training as much as possible," Federer said. "I've been strengthening my quad muscles for when I head into the gym in the next couple of months.

"I remain very upbeat but in a way it's painful to be here, and it was hard watching the Olympics and not playing. I hope to be super strong when I come back in January."

Federer reached the US Open final 12 months ago and his absence will harden the views of those that consider this year's men's tournament a two-horse race.

Novak Djokovic, the winner of four of the last five grand slams, will be the top seed but Andy Murray is the player in form, having won Queen's, Wimbledon and an Olympic gold medal already this summer.

"It hasn't really changed my opinion that Novak is the favourite, despite a few tough losses," Federer said.

"He did win (the Rogers Cup) in Toronto. He has a great record against Andy and is a great hard court player, you see that in the conditions like here and at the Australian Open.

"I think the the new roof (over Arthur Ashe Stadium) will help him as well, as it will be more like Australia. Of course Andy is a great player in the wind, but then so is Novak.

"But I have been very impressed by Andy, what he has done this summer has been incredible. I hope he can keep that going.

"I think it will be a very exciting US Open and probably a great race between them until the end of the season."

Source: PA