'We don't know what to expect from Roger Federer in 2021,' says Annabel Croft

Roger Federer turns 40 in August, and he is still eager to extend his career despite the most extended break that has kept him away from the court for a year.

Annabel Croft believes that Roger still wants to compete on the highest level. However, she wonders if that will be possible after not playing for such a long time and experiencing two knee surgeries, all that before turning 40!

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"As we look ahead to 2021, the Big Three are far from being in decline, are looking as likely as ever to dominate, with the caveat that nobody will quite know what to expect from Federer, who will turn 40 in August. He seems to have been holding back the years for most of the last decade, and we have learned never to write him off, but does he have it in him to make one more all-conquering comeback?

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In the meantime, Thiem, Zverev and some of the other young guns have taken their games to new levels, while Djokovic and Nadal have continued to prove their durability. In all the prevailing circumstances last year, Federer might even have contemplated retirement. Still, I imagine that the prospect of trying to win an Olympic singles gold medal in Tokyo, which is just about the only jewel missing from his crown, might have been one of his factors in deciding to continue.

There is also one key element that I think some people forget: his fundamental love for his life as a professional tennis player seems to override even his desire to win tennis matches and titles," Annabel Croft said.