Roger Federer has confirmed he will make his long-awaited return to professional tennis later this year, but is there any chance he’ll compete at the US Open in late August?
US Open betting odds have Federer pegged as the joint-eighth favorite (+2000) to win his sixth US Open and first since 2008.
Those are preposterously short US Open tennis betting odds considering Federer has played just 13 matches since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at the 2020 Australian Open.
While Federer is a demigod among men, it’s doubtful he’ll return in time to play the 2022 US Open, let alone win the tournament. The 40-year-old will be 41 on Aug. 8, exactly three weeks before the US Open swings into action.
And while he has one of the best sports medicine teams money can buy, even the sublime Swiss won’t be able to triumph over seven of the world’s best in the sweltering heat over an arduous two-week span without any warm-up tournaments.
He has committed to competing with Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in late September. Whether you’re a Federer fan or not, that’s an exciting prospect.
A Fedal Comeback.
Tennis superstars @rogerfederer and @RafaelNadal will represent Team Europe this September at #LaverCup London 2022. Premium hospitality packages available starting February 7. Multi-session tickets go on sale in early March. https://t.co/APOt1nJCb1 pic.twitter.com/4ufboTFDp6— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) February 3, 2022
After recovering from a double knee surgery, Federer returned to action briefly in March 2021. He played 13 matches over a five-month stretch, including nine at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, before fading into oblivion – and onto the treatment table – for another year.
He is working diligently to return to give it one final, hopefully, heroic swansong. Federer’s ultimate goal is to win another Wimbledon crown before permanently hanging up his shoes, and he’ll do everything it takes for one final Centre Court showdown on championship Sunday.
He won’t risk returning to the court prematurely and without sufficient time to prepare, especially in advance of one of tennis’ most important, grueling and unforgiving tournaments.
Even if he miraculously returns to the courts of Flushing Meadows in just over a month, don’t expect him to advance into the second week.
Too much time has passed, and not enough tennis has been played for the legendary Swiss to waltz back onto Center Court and win seven successive Grand Slam matches.
While it doesn’t hurt to hold out hope and wish for his US Open return, avoid the temptation of backing him on the US Open futures market.
Federer last won a Grand Slam at the 2018 Australian Open. He has won only five Grand Slams since the start of 2010, three of which in a four-tournament span in a full calendar year (2017-18).
The other 15 Grand Slam titles came in a six-year flurry, from 2003-09. So you can see how the sands of time – in correlation with many devastating injuries – have negatively impacted his storied career.
More than likely, Federer is eyeing the Australian Open in January as the tournament for his all-anticipated return.
Until then, Federer fans will have to wait a while longer to see him unleash the sweetest, most fluid, one-handed backhand of all time.
