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‘Old Man Is Clueless’ – Roger Federer’s Latest Practice Clip Draws an Unexpected Reaction From Former American Pro

Published 02/22/2024, 11:32 PM EST

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Roger Federer posted a story on Instagram on Thursday where he was spotted hitting the practice courts yet again. Fans turned frenzy seeing his trademark backhands and forehands. But how was his footwork though, since post-retirement he has mostly kept tennis at arm’s length.

The former American tennis player, Mardy Fish came up with a sarcastic comment on Roger Federer’s latest video post of practicing against a wall. What did the 42-year-old tennis star say about the former world number one? Let’s find out.

‘Terrible footwork’- Mardy Fish on Roger Federer’s latest post on Instagram

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Both of them have faced each other on 9 occasions. Although Roger Federer leads the H2H with a clear-cut 8-1 margin. But Mardy Fish had once recalled how he underestimated Federer’s abilities ahead of their first meeting at the 2003 Wimbledon. Fish had called a friend before his third-round match against Federer at Wimbledon that year and said, “I think I’ve got a great draw now. I don’t think this guy is all that great!” Later on, Roger Federer crushed him in 4 sets and went on to win his maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

The former world number 7, is back yet again with a sarcastic comment while sharing Federer’s recent clip of him hitting against the wall. Mardy Fish wrote in the caption, “Terrible footwork. This old man is clueless about the game of tennis.

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Talking about Federer’s footwork, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is perhaps one of the greatest movers on the court. He is so fluid on the court that makes it look like a piece of cake for him. Roger Federer’s footwork is quite different to others. When he hits a backhand he is often seen using a footwork pattern called a “cross-behind” while making his way back into the court.

So, is he coming back? Well, that seems very unlikely as of now. As he once said to the media, he feels like he took the lemon and squeezed it out till the last drop. Federer said he gave all that he had and nothing is left now. But still, fans would love to get a chance to sneak in a few moments like this of the legend having a racket back in his hand.

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‘I wish sometimes I was alone on the practice courts’ – Roger Federer

Roger Federer admitted that he would still love to play some exhibition tournaments shortly to stay in shape and try to look good. But when it comes to competitive tennis, he explained his knee problem will be a major hindrance to even thinking of such ideas.

Everyone wants to see their tennis icon back on the court. But once during an interview, Federer revealed how hard it was to practice sometimes as it always attracted huge crowds. He said, “It’s not easy. I wish sometimes I was alone on the practice courts because then you can really just relax a bit more. But I feel like everything is documented, whatever I do in the practice courts. So sometimes I do feel the pressure, as well, and then you can’t just come in and walk in and out, you know.

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You don’t have to, but of course, I sign a lot of autographs and take pictures. That always takes time away, too. It’s just part of my life today. But it definitely, you know, also wears you out at times. I like to do it and put in the hard work because they make it so worthwhile, you know, to keep on playing and make it so much more fun,” Roger Federer.

So fans now have to wait for an exhibition match to finally see Federer during a match. Would you love to see the 42-year-old tennis legend back on the court? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box.

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Written by:

Sayantan Roy

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Sayantan Roy is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports, who crafts tennis tales that not only capture the game's essence but also reflect his creative genius. As a believer in unbiased journalism, Sayantan, a fan of both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, loves to fuse the world of such tennis rivals and present balanced copies as fan reaction pieces. Engaged in sports since college, he brings that passion to life.
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Edited by:

Ananya Giri