WATCH | Hope I’m back: Roger Federer offers no guarantee he’ll return to defend his Wimbledon title
Having reclaimed his place on Wimbledon’s throne and indelibly etched his name in the tournament’s record books, Roger Federer dangled the unpalatable possibility that he may never grace its fabled lawns again. Fourteen years after a pony-tailed Swiss starlet first soared into the tennis ether at The All England Club, Federer returned on Sunday as a 35-year-old veteran to confirm his place as the greatest man ever to play the grasscourt slam with a record eighth title.
The 6-3 6-1 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic was a brutal demolition job, as the Croat’s blistered feet rendered him easy pickings. Yet, having delivered a 19th major title for his army of fans on Centre Court, Federer admitted that his advancing age and last year’s injury issues meant he could not say for certain that he would be back to defend his crown next year.
“I hope that I’m back, but there’s never a guarantee, especially not at 35,” he told reporters. Federer’s resurgence to the game’s summit will go down as one of sport’s most remarkable comeback tales. When he exited Wimbledon last year, he spent six months out of tennis through injury. Even the great man himself had doubts as to whether …read more
