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Former Coach Explains How Roger Federer Would Not Make Physical Injuries an ‘Excuse’

Published 08/18/2021, 1:40 AM EDT

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Having been forced to cut his season short again, Roger Federer is set to miss the American swing of the 2021 season. After competing in two Grand Slams this year, the king of grass has decided to go off tour again, owing to another injury. The nagging question about Federer’s retirement becomes pertinent again, now more than ever. Will we see the former US Open winner in action again?

Earlier this year, the Swiss maestro suffered a shock defeat at Wimbledon to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. This was after Federer had already withdrawn from Roland Garros, citing possible fatigue leading into Wimbledon. He acknowledges the delicate nature of his body at this stage of his career, and always puts his health first. After being eliminated from SW19, the 20-time Grand Slam champion announced that his struggles with the knee have returned. Following a long and hard deliberation, Federer has decided to undergo surgery again.

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Paul Annacone lauds the no-excuse attitude of Roger Federer

Very few players are able to consistently perform at the highest level of the sport over such a long period of time. The World No.9 has maintained himself impeccably, ensuring his longevity on tour. Another key quality that the Swiss star possesses is the ability to fight through pain. Retirement and Roger Federer are two phrases that you will just not find in the same sentence. A former coach recently reiterated this innate feature of Roger.

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Watch this Story: How Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Others Travel.

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Paul Annacone coached Federer back in 2010, when he was in his prime. The coach spoke on a telephone interview, where he highlighted the former No.1’s tenacious quality. “All I can tell you after four years of traveling with him is that he was one of the best at not complaining and not letting people know what was going on if he was having physical problems and not using stuff as an excuse,” stated Paul. This ability of the 40-year-old legend has perhaps kept him focused on his main goals.

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Any frequent viewer of Roger can attest to the fact that he uses no excuses when he is on court. If he starts a match, he will give his all no matter how he is feeling. Such gritty qualities elevate the truly great from the good ones! Roger Federer has, is, and always will inspire the generations to come. No matter how long it takes, we all hope to see one of the greatest of all time back on court sooner rather than later.

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Written by:

Sankalp Harikrishnan

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Sankalp Harikrishnan is a tennis and NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He aspires to pursue Sports Journalism and has represented his institution in cricket, badminton, football, and table tennis. Apart from his professional desires, Sankalp does voluntary service with his friends to feed hungry animals on a regular basis.
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