Top
Roger Federer French Open 2021
Roger Federer, Tennis News, Wimbledon

‘Federer shouldn’t compete if significantly below his best’, says Grand Slam legend


Pam Shriver does not think Roger Federer should compete if he is “significantly below Roger Federer level” and thought this was the case in the Swiss’ Halle defeat. 

Federer was beaten by Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the Noventi Open in Halle last week.

Shriver won 21 Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles and one in mixed doubles, and was ranked as high as world No. 3 in singles.

“I’m uneasy about him for the first time. I don’t think he should compete if he’s significantly below ‘Roger Federer level,’ and I thought the final two sets [in Halle] were significantly below that level,” the American said in an interview for Tennis.com.

Shriver added on Federer’s US Open chances: “Look what happened at the French Open, on softer clay. Will Roger’s knees be that much better and ready for best-of-five set hard-court matches just two months later?”

World No. 8 Federer will be seeded seventh at Wimbledon – where he is an eight-time champion – following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal.

The 39-year-old won 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 against qualifier Ilya Ivashka in the first round of the Halle ATP 500 before his loss to eventual semi-finalist Auger-Aliassime.


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.