In January 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the entire world and caused tennis to stop for several months, Roger Federer was eliminated in the semi-final of the Australian Open in three sets by Novak Djokovic .
In a tournament where he had already come close to elimination (five sets against Millman in the 3rd round, seven match points saved in the quarter-final against Sandgren), the Swiss had not been able to resist a Djokovic in search, the time of his 8th title in Melbourne.
At a press conference, the Swiss, then aged 38, was still positive about the idea of being able to add a 21st Grand Slam to his list of achievements:
“I believe in it. I think with the season I had last year (2019), with what I have in my game, with the way I play, I feel like yes.
I am confident. I’m happy with the way I feel, I have no plans to retire. »
Unfortunately, time did not prove Federer’s words right, since the pandemic then prevented him from playing the Wimbledon tournament, which was canceled.
Then, injured in the knee, he took the opportunity to have surgery in June 2020, which delayed his return to competition.
He reached the round of 16 at Roland-Garros in 2021 (he withdrew from the tournament before his match) before reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, soundly beaten in three sets by Hubert Hurkacz.
And it was in 2022, during the Laver Cup, that Federer decided to end his career.
This Friday, January 30, 2020, he played, without knowing it, his last match at the Australian Open.
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