By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer continues to sit up for 2021 with optimism.
Earlier this week he introduced that he has regained the rights to his well-known RF emblem, which shall be out there at Uniqlo retailers as quickly as this coming Tuesday. That’s little doubt a delight for Federer followers–as is the truth that he’s trying ahead to Tokyo Olympics participation.
The Olympics had been postponed from the summer season of 2020 due to the continued coronavirus pandemic, which additionally worn out 5 months of the tennis season. If the pandemic permits, the Video games will now be held July 24 to August 9, 2021. And if they’re held, Federer plans to be there.
The 39-year-old Swiss made his intentions recognized throughout a video chat with Kei Nishikori on Saturday.
Nishikori: “I do know you got here to Japan final yr. Do you’ve any plans (to return again) subsequent yr?”
Federer: “Sure. Clearly the large plan is to be there for the Olympics. That is for me the large one. Possibly selfishly for me it wasn’t a foul factor that it was moved (from 2020), due to the issues I had this yr. Let’s hope now for the most effective for the Olympic Video games coming to Tokyo this subsequent yr. Clearly that is one in every of my huge targets; I actually hope I can come again to Tokyo and Japan for that. I keep in mind successful in Tokyo in 2006 at Ariake Stadium and that would be the Olympic Stadium.”
As Federer famous, he wouldn’t have been in a position to play this yr as a result of he was sidelined by a knee damage. Now that the 20-time Grand Slam champion seems to be able to go from a bodily standpoint for 2021, he hopes to make a return journey to Japan. Federer received the Japan Open–on the aforementioned Ariake Stadium in Tokyo–in his first and solely look at that match again in 2006.
Along with singles and doubtlessly males’s doubles, blended doubles with Belinda Bencic is also an choice.
“I’m prepared,” Bencic assured. “It’s simply as much as Roger now. Nothing has been determined but, every part remains to be very far-off for me, however along with the Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympic Video games stays one in every of my huge targets–in singles and perhaps additionally in blended. If we keep wholesome, I want to compete with Roger.”
Federer was imagined to play blended doubles with Martina Hingis on the 2016 Rio Olympics, however they ended up withdrawing. He has by no means received a singles gold medal however triumphed with Wawrinka on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Ricky
contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise
maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may observe
him on twitter at @Dimonator.
