Former World No. 1 Roger Federer might not have retired final 12 months and would have nonetheless been within the high 5 gamers on the planet if it wasn’t for his knee harm, stated the 20-time Main winner’s coach Ivan Ljubicic on Thursday.
In an interview with tennismajors.com, Ljubicic stated, “I feel that (harm) was the one method for him to cease, truthfully. I don’t suppose there was some other method. His skill wouldn’t go down. His health would perhaps, with time, he can be barely slower, barely this, barely that, however his genius would nonetheless hold him within the high, no matter, 5.
“I truthfully suppose that the one method for him to cease was the physique was not in a position to stick with it. Wanting again, as a result of he loves it a lot, there was no method for him to decide to cease taking part in as a result of, I don’t know,: ‘I don’t need to play anymore’. That may by no means occur.”
Following struggles with knee accidents, the 41-year-old Federer retired from skilled tennis final 12 months on the Laver Cup in London after taking part in one closing doubles match, partnering Rafael Nadal, one in all his largest rivals in a profession that lasted slightly over 20 years.
Former World No. 3 Ljubicic joined Severin Luthi on Federer’s teaching group in 2016. A 12 months later, the Swiss participant received the Australian Open, his first Main since Wimbledon 2012. Federer clinched his closing Main by efficiently defending the title in Melbourne in 2018.