The Swiss is entering territory once occupied by Muhammad Ali – but does he have another Lazarus moment in him?
When Roger Federer withdrew from the rest of this shredded tennis season on Wednesday after a second, if apparently minor, operation on his right knee he spread despondency among millions of fans and raised hopes for his career rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Nadal, 34 a week ago, has rested his own physical aches during the pandemic break and needs one major title to draw alongside Federer’s all-time record of 20. He should add to his 12 French Open titles if, as expected, he is fit and that tournament goes ahead in September or early October.
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