International of the United States: a third Grand Slam title for Roger Federer?

Photo: Alastair Grant Associated Press
The tennis player Roger Federer

After having spent four and a half years without signing a single triumph in a Grand Slam tournament, and now well rooted in the thirties, the tennis player switzerland has a chance, starting Monday, to win a third title of the kind in 2017, this time to the International of the United States.

“I have trouble imagining that I could win three Grand Slam tournaments in a year. It seems completely surreal, ” said Federer in an interview with the Associated Press.

“But I will prepare myself as best as possible, so as to have the best chance of success in New York. “

There is no doubt, Federer is back. Totally.

He is back on the tennis complex at Flushing Meadows, after completing the deadlock a year ago to recover from surgery on his left knee.

And he is back among the favorites after his triumphs at the Australian open in January and Wimbledon in July, the only risks he has taken part in 2017.

Several absent

Federer celebrated his 36th birthday on 8 August, and in the history of the tournament, which dates back to 1881, only two players came out victorious at a more advanced age than hers.

Then he will seek a first triumph at Flushing Meadows since 2008, he will stand before a table bereft of many of the best players of the circuit male.

His fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka (left knee), reigning champion, and the Serbian Novak Djokovic (right elbow), finalist in 2016, have put an end to their season, just like the Japanese Kei Nishikori (right wrist).

On Wednesday night, the Canadian Milos Raonic has also announced its withdrawal from the tournament due to a painful injury to the left wrist.

In addition, the British Andy Murray, beaten by Spaniard Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings of the ATP, is annoyed by pain in one hip and has not played since Wimbledon.

Djokovic, Wawrinka and Nishikori, all three in the top 10, have decided to imitate Federer, who has sacrificed the last five months of 2016 to regain health, including the International of the United States and the olympic Games in Rio.

The result was convincing. Federer has won five tournaments in 2017 and has 35 wins in 38 games.

“The long break last year really helped. It is a little far away and watched everything from the outside. It gives a certain perspective, noted Severin Luthi, one of the trainers of roger Federer.

“In general, I know that, when he takes a break and is refreshed and ready to go, happy to play and motivated… this is one of its greatest strengths. “

Four Canadians in the next round

Montreal’s Françoise Abanda and Ontario Denis Shapovalov, Peter Polansky and Frank Dancevic have made one more step towards the main draw of the International of the United States won their match of the second round of the qualifications on Thursday. By contrast, Félix Auger-Aliassime has undergone the elimination lowered the flag in two sets of 6-7 (8), and 4-6 in the face of the Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.