The return of Roger Federer to the courts, after more than a year of inactivity, he had a confirmed date. The former number one had warned some time ago that his intention was to return to play on the pitch Laver cup, which will take place from 23 to 25 September. Since then many fans have been looking forward to this exhibition event, which is not part of the official calendar, but brings together many of the great protagonists of the circuit. But it seems that the return will have to wait.

It’s that Roger has suffered a new setback in his right knee recovery, which has undergone three surgeries and has kept him out of competition since July last year. According to the reporter simone graffrom the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeigerthe 20-time Grand Slam winner had fluid in his knee again and the area swelled again.

Graf said Federer had been training with the former player in recent weeks Ivo Heubergerof which is very close, but who the intensity of the work is not what one would expect from a player who will soon be back in competition. And the reason, according to people close to the player’s inner circle, is this new setback in the second half, which questions his presence at Laver, a tournament organized by his own company. Team 8.

The Swiss, who disappeared from the ATP rankings due to long inactivity, played his last match on 7 July 2021, when he fell in three sets against the Pole. Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. The Grand Slam The Brit was only his fifth appearance in a season where he was making efforts not to ask for more from a right knee in which he had already undergone two operations (in February and June 2020) and was not one hundred percent.

But on the grass tour (he had played room before going to London) the discomfort in the area returned and in August he announced that he would be operated again for a third operation. Then he went through a rehabilitation which ended up taking longer than expected.

The most optimistic were hoping to see him again in action on the Australian tour in early 2022 or the United States Masters 1000 on hardcourt which is played every March. It was later speculated that he could return for the season on grass and play for All England. He shared the progress of his rehabilitation on social media and always asked for caution.

“When I underwent surgery at the end of August, we already knew I would progress little by little. Today I can say it will take a while. I just have to be patient. I’m making steady progress.” she said in June.

At that moment, he assured that his idea was to play Laver and make his official return to the circuit in the Basel ATP, his home, from 24 to 30 October. Those were the only two games he intended to play in this 2022.

“It is important for me to get back in shape to be able to train thoroughly again. The Laver Cup is a good start, because I won’t have to play five games in six days. I should be able to do it in Basel.” For this I have to prepare myself well in training. And after Basel the season is over anyway “, she explained.

His return, added to the confirmed presences of Rafael Nadal (in doubt even today, after the statements of the Spaniard after being eliminated from the US Open), Novak Djokovic Y Andy Murray for him Europe teamThey wowed the fans.

But weeks before the competition starts, information from Switzerland is not promising. It seems that Roger’s return will have to wait – until Basel, perhaps – and that the public will remain eager to see the Swiss in action and the Fantastic Four together on the pitch once again.