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A video of Roger Federer practicing in Dubai has emerged on social media, where the Swiss legend can be seen swinging his racquet on the tennis courts at the Hyatt Regency. This is one of the very few videos showing Federer in the field after his double knee surgery earlier in the year.
The 14-second clip was posted to Twitter by former Indian diplomat and current Deccan Chronicles columnist KC Singh. Singh’s son, who appears to reside in the same hotel as Roger Federer, is the one who filmed the video.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion himself confirmed that he is currently in Dubai with his wife and children. The Federer family has also been separately photographed in other locations around the city.
In the video we can see Roger Federer exchanging a few punches with a training partner (who is not in the frame). The 39-year-old is training, unsurprisingly, on a hard court, ahead of the Australian Open which will be played on the same surface.
Federer can also be seen doing his signature “ twirl ” racket before stepping forward and tearing a one-handed backhand.
The whole world of tennis saw Federer unleash an improved and more powerful backhand when he made his stellar comeback in 2017. His fans would definitely be hoping for the six-fold open from Australia champion has yet another trick up his sleeve when he returns to the pitch next year.
Will Roger Federer play the 2021 Australian Open?
Not much can be concluded from a 14-second clip, but this new development seems to contain a silver lining for Roger Federer fans.
First, the 39-year-old appears to have his footwork in good shape, with little noticeable knee discomfort. Plus, given that the 2021 Australian Open is set in the summer heat, it’s an encouraging sign that Federer has chosen to train in Dubai’s hot climate.
The Middle Eastern city is a favored practical and vacation destination for Roger Federer; he usually goes there in December of each year to prepare for the Australian Open. As such, Federer following the same routine this year indicates that the Swiss star is hopeful of competing in the Australian Open next year.
Posted on Dec 23, 2020, 6:21 PM IST
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