When Federer knew that his knee might not be the same | ATP Tour

Roger Federer is flying high and currently leading the ATP Race To London after winning his 28th ATP Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

But just a few years ago, the Swiss did not know if he would ever find such a shape again. Federer has qualified for the semi finals of the 2016 Australian Open against the world No.1 Novak Djokovic. The next day, while he was planning a bath for his daughters, he heard a snap in his knee. When he returned to Switzerland, Federer was diagnosed with an MRI that he had a meniscus fracture and needed surgery.

"[I] could not believe it. [I] was actually very moved, especially after the operation, looking down at my foot and realizing that maybe that leg or knee would never be the same again, "said Federer. "I took it on my chin and said," Okay, I'll start working the next day after I get back from the hospital "."

Federer did not find his form immediately, however. His knee was still bothering him in clay court tournaments in Monte Carlo and Rome, and his back was starting to move. This forced him to withdraw from Roland Garros.

"I just realized that I could not even win a match here," Federer said.

The back of the Swiss improved on the grbad, but not his knee. So after a defeat in the semifinal against Milos Raonic, Federer decided that his body needed a break and his team agreed. Federer did not play the rest of the season.

"It also gave me all the time I needed on the training ground to rework my game," Federer said. "So when I came back in 2017, I came back so hard."

Federer was the seventh seed at the Australian Open, but he managed to win his first Grand Slam title in nearly five years. At 35 years and 174 days, Federer became the oldest major since Ken Rosewall in 1971.

"I could not believe it myself because I thought it would take me at least almost half of the season to get into the thick of things," Federer said. "But this fairy tale ended very well by winning the Australian Open on my return to the final against Rafa where I had a record of 1-3 in the fifth. The rest we know that I continue, I return and I win. So this was perhaps one of the most special moments of my entire tennis career. "