Why isn’t Roger Federer playing in 2022 US Open? When will he be back?
The Swiss tennis player is getting closer to making his come back, but he’s not ready yet.
Tennis fans around the world are waiting for Roger Federer’s return since his quarter final defeat to Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon 2021. With the fourth Grand Slam of the season, the US Open, around the corner, Federer’s immediate future deserves a look.
Why is Federer out of the 2022 US Open?
Federer celebrated his 41st birthday on 8 August, it’s understandable that his physique cannot withstand a whole season of tennis, and that he has had to pick his tournaments carefully over the past few years. As he recovers from an injury that he sustained after last year’s Wimbledon, his calendar will be even more restricted going forward. This means that Federer may actually be ready to play some tennis this September and could hypothetically make his return at the same time that Serena Williams plays her last tournament, but the European star is being very careful as he aims to compete for as long as he can before finally retiring.
Federer is still one of the biggest stars of the game even if he has already disappeared from the ATP rankings due to inactivity, but him being the highest earning tennis player even without taking the court shows that the game is not ready to move on without him. He showed up in All England’s Club this past July for Wimbledon’s Centre Court 100th anniversary, and although he did so in a suit, the fans’ roar must have reminded him how loved he is, and how eager everyone is to see his backhand once again.
Federer’s announced comeback
Even though his return to ATP tournaments will take place in 2023, making it a whole season lost for Federer in 2022, he will take to the courts later this year in the Laver Cup later in September. The Swiss star will be part of a stacked Europe Team that will try to keep its dominance in the tournament against Team World. It is no surprise that Federer will be a part of the Laver Cup as it is basically his own tournament, and it is gaining in popularity each year with a format that resembles golf’s Ryder Cup. It will also allow tennis fans to watch Federer play alongside Nadal or Djokovic instead of against them.
After this, Federer will keep ramping up his recovery in hopes of being ready for the start of next season, with the Australian Open in January, the season’s first Grand Slam, as the probable return tournament for the veteran superstar.