MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Who Is John Millman, The Man Who Toppled Federer?

Who Is John Millman, The Man Who Toppled Federer?

This Is What Tennis Legend Roger Federer Eats and Drinks For Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This Is What Tennis Legend Roger Federer Eats and Drinks For Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Roger Federer Has a Yearly Ritual That Will Break Your Heart

Roger Federer Has a Yearly Ritual That Will Break Your Heart

Roger Federer Will Reportedly Announce A New Major Sponsor

Roger Federer Will Reportedly Announce A New Major Sponsor

{headline}

{headline}

Why Nick Kyrgios Can’t Win The Australian Open

Why Nick Kyrgios Can’t Win The Australian Open

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

How Stan Wawrinka Stays At The Top Of His Game

How Stan Wawrinka Stays At The Top Of His Game

{headline}

{headline}

Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Headline Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Headline Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

Ash Barty Is The 2019 Sportswoman Of The Year

Ash Barty Is The 2019 Sportswoman Of The Year

French Tennis Player's Son Rushes On Court To Console Him After French Open Loss

French Tennis Player's Son Rushes On Court To Console Him After French Open Loss

How To Look The Part For Your Next Game Of Tennis

How To Look The Part For Your Next Game Of Tennis

Mark Philippoussis On The Future of Australian Tennis

Mark Philippoussis On The Future of Australian Tennis

Rafael Nadal Is Bringing This Trend Back To Tennis

Rafael Nadal Is Bringing This Trend Back To Tennis

Golf’s World Ranking System Is About To Get A Major Overhaul

Golf’s World Ranking System Is About To Get A Major Overhaul

  1. Home
  2. Sport

At Almost 40 Years Old, Is Roger Federer... Finished?

That depends on what the champion has left in the tank. - by Dan Williams
  • 04 Jan 2021
At Almost 40 Years Old, Is Roger Federer... Finished?
Instagram/rogerfederer

A slower-than-expected recovery from knee surgery has caused Roger Federer to withdraw from next month’s Australian Open, meaning that if the Swiss ace is again to grace our country’s biggest tournament he will do so as a man who’s hit 40.

Realistically, could he still be a threat at that age?

Weekend warriors beyond a certain age know all too well there are realities associated with an ageing body that can be played down but not evaded. You lose strength and speed. Your VO2max wanes. You come up rougher from heavy exertion and recover more slowly.

rogerfederer View Profile
View Post on Instagram

Federer is no weekend warrior. But even the greatest player of all time (feel free to dispute that point; we’ll stand by it) is a flesh-and-blood organism subject to all the same forces as you are.

What’s easy to forget about Federer because his game remains so sublime is that he has been past his peak for a decade. Consider his tally of 20 grand-slam titles: he won 16 of those between 2003-10 while he was in his 20s.

So, before you get to wondering about how he’ll cope in his 40s, keep in mind how much harder winning silverware has been for him in his 30s.

His great rival, Rafael Nadal, was expected to conk out sooner because of his grinding style but it’s the Spaniard who’s fared better as a thirtysomething.

rogerfederer View Profile
View Post on Instagram

Corey Bocking, a strength and conditioning coach who has worked with Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis and witnessed first-hand Federer’s training methods, sees no reason to think the Swiss will be reduced to an also-ran when he returns to the circuit.

“Roger is the GOAT for a reason and I have no doubt he will win at least one more grand-slam title before he hangs up his Wilson,” says Bocking.

“He’s surrounded by the best people and will leave no stone unturned in his comeback.

“Roger has earned the right to pick and choose which tournaments he plays. He will carefully manage his workload and target certain tournaments, specifically this year’s Wimbledon.”

For his part, Federer is firmly in the age-is-no-barrier camp.

“When I was younger – 20, 22, 24 – I was already hoping that one day I could play for a long time,” he said recently. “I hoped to have longevity. I’ve worked hard for it. I’ve kept myself in good shape.”

Federer will draw confidence from having won three major titles in 2017-18 after a six-month lay-off caused by a previous knee injury. If he could do it then, he would figure, why not again?

What most veterans lose – that pure love of the game, tolerance for the jetsetter life – Federer has kept despite everything, including fathering two sets of twins.

The smartest advice we can give you on this is also the oldest: never write off a champion.

Dan Williams
Dan Williams
Dan Williams, Men’s Health’s Associate Editor, is the magazine’s most experienced presence. While his body protests more than it used to, he still insists it honour the MH way, with regular dawn workouts mingled with punishing sessions on the tennis court – all against a backdrop of abstemiousness: he turns into a pumpkin at 10pm.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Who Is John Millman, The Man Who Toppled Federer?

Who Is John Millman, The Man Who Toppled Federer?

This Is What Tennis Legend Roger Federer Eats and Drinks For Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This Is What Tennis Legend Roger Federer Eats and Drinks For Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Roger Federer Has a Yearly Ritual That Will Break Your Heart

Roger Federer Has a Yearly Ritual That Will Break Your Heart

Roger Federer Will Reportedly Announce A New Major Sponsor

Roger Federer Will Reportedly Announce A New Major Sponsor

{headline}

{headline}

Why Nick Kyrgios Can’t Win The Australian Open

Why Nick Kyrgios Can’t Win The Australian Open

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

How Stan Wawrinka Stays At The Top Of His Game

How Stan Wawrinka Stays At The Top Of His Game

{headline}

{headline}

Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Headline Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Headline Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

Ash Barty Is The 2019 Sportswoman Of The Year

Ash Barty Is The 2019 Sportswoman Of The Year

French Tennis Player's Son Rushes On Court To Console Him After French Open Loss

French Tennis Player's Son Rushes On Court To Console Him After French Open Loss

How To Look The Part For Your Next Game Of Tennis

How To Look The Part For Your Next Game Of Tennis

Mark Philippoussis On The Future of Australian Tennis

Mark Philippoussis On The Future of Australian Tennis

Rafael Nadal Is Bringing This Trend Back To Tennis

Rafael Nadal Is Bringing This Trend Back To Tennis

Golf’s World Ranking System Is About To Get A Major Overhaul

Golf’s World Ranking System Is About To Get A Major Overhaul

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now