Federer's prediction after his elimination from the 2020 Australian Open

© AFP

Jules Hypolite

le 08/01/2025 à 22h44

2 min to read

Federer

In January 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and brought tennis to a standstill for several months, Roger Federer was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in three sets by Novak Djokovic.

In a tournament where he had already come close to elimination (five sets against Millman in the 3rd round, seven match points saved in the quarter-finals against Sandgren), the Swiss was unable to resist Djokovic, who was seeking his 8th title in Melbourne at the time.

In his press conference, the 38-year-old Swiss was still positive about the prospect of adding a 21st Grand Slam to his list of honours:

"I believe in it. I think with the season I had last year (2019), with what I have in my game, with the way I play, I have the feeling that yes.

I'm confident. I'm happy with the way I feel, I have no intention of retiring."

Unfortunately, time did not prove Federer's words right, as the pandemic then prevented him from playing in the Wimbledon tournament, which was cancelled.

Then, with a knee injury, he took the opportunity to undergo surgery in June 2020, which delayed his return to competition.

He reached the last 16 at Roland Garros in 2021 (he withdrew from the tournament before his match) before reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, where he was soundly beaten in three sets by Hubert Hurkacz.

And it was in 2022, at the Laver Cup, that Federer decided to call time on his career.

So, on Friday January 30, 2020, he unknowingly played his last match at the Australian Open.