Roger Federer hasn't played tennis since his disappointing upset at the Wimbledon quarterfinal last year, but he has spent the intervening months planning his return to the court—and training accordingly. Federer, who was forced to withdraw from the 2021 U.S. Open and temporarily set down his racket after sustaining a knee injury, has just shared a series of updates on his recovery.
"Rehab is rockinggggggg," the Wimbledon and Grand Slam champion wrote on Instagram, posting some shots and videos which show just how much progress he has made in the past seven months since undergoing surgery, including a video in which he shows off his agile footwork during some speedwork and ladder drills, and another clip where he demonstrates his forehand.
While the training footage is certainly encouraging to his fans (of whom there are many), Federer has been careful not to push himself too hard, or hurry back to the game. The knee operation he had in August 2021 was his third, and he has been prioritizing his health and longevity over short-term goals.
"I've got to first walk again properly, run properly and then do the side steps and all the agility work, and then eventually I've got to be back on the tennis court," he said in September. "But it's going to take me a few more months, and then we'll see how things are at some point next year. I've got to take my time. I don't want to rush into anything at this point... This is also for my life. I want to make sure I can do everything I want to do later on. There's no rush with anything, so I'm actually in a really good place. I think the worst is behind me. I'm really happy."
