Roger Federer will lose his position as world No. 1 ranking after his surprise elimination in Miami Open 2018 on Saturday against Thanasi Kokkinakis in three sets.
But the Swiss, who will cut throughout the season on clay court, does not formalise it, especially since it could quickly, without playing, return to the top of the ATP ranking.
Arrived undefeated at the beginning of March at Indian Wells with two titles Australian Open 2018 and Rotterdam, a world No. 1 status recovered after six years of waiting, Federer left Miami with a record reduced to 17 wins for two losses and a scratched confidence.
He conceded in one week two defeats: one in the final at Indian Wells against Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, then the other in the second round in Miami against Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis.
“They were decided in a decisive game in the third inning, if not much else. Whenever I had the opportunity to take the advantage, there was something: either a bad choice on my part, or a good choice on his part,” Federer said.
“Throughout the match, I was struggling to improve my game. I didn’t feel good in the third round. Last week already, I did not play well. I could not find a solution. I will now have time to understand what happened,” Federer added.
As in 2017, Federer will miss the clay court and Roland Garros from May 27 to June 10, the Grand Slam tournament that posed the most problems in his career.
Roger Federer will miss entire clay court season after Miami Open 2018. (Source:www.zimbio.com)
The goal is threefold: to spend more time with the family, to spare his knees and his back than the beaten earth martyrise, to prepare at best the season on grass court.
This strategy had smiled on him last year, since he had won in two of his favorite tournaments, Halle and Wimbledon, raising the winner’s trophy for the 9th and 8th time, without losing a round.
During his busy holidays, the 36-year-old man will lose, on April 2nd, his position of world No. 1 recovered last month thanks to his coronation in Rotterdam. He will return to her great rival, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
“The important thing was to become again in Rotterdam. I always said that it was not a goal to finish year # 1. I would still like to play for as long as possible.” Federer said.
