Paris (AFP)

Will he be able to stretch his longevity even further? Roger Federer underwent a second operation of the right knee in less than four months, in the middle of a season interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, but intends to return to the circuit in 2021, the year of his 40 years, "100% ready to play at (its) best level ".

This message from Federer on social networks comes as imminent announcements are expected on the fate of the 2020 season, stopped since early March, and until at least late July, due to the global health crisis.

"A few weeks ago, having experienced a delay during my initial rehabilitation, I had to undergo a new rapid arthroscopy on my right knee", wrote Wednesday on Twitter the Swiss with twenty record trophies in Grand Slam, which will celebrate his 39 years early August.

He had his first knee surgery on February 19.

"Now, like I did before the 2017 season, I plan to take the time to be 100% ready to play at my best level. I will miss the fans and the circuit a lot but I can't wait to see everything again the world at the start of the 2021 season ", continues the former world N.1, currently N.4.

As we approach quarantine, and after these two operations back to back, will Federer recover as he sees fit? The question inevitably arises and will no doubt fuel recurring speculation about his end of career.

If you want to see the glass half full, the episode of 2017 speaks for itself.

- Six matches in 2020 -

When he returns to the circuit in early 2017, after a first operation of the same type in February 2016, but on the left knee, and six months of break between July and January, Federer immediately triumphs at the Australian Open, then at Wimbledon six months later.

The difference is that at the time, he was "only" 34 years old.

In any case, the upheaval by the coronavirus pandemic of the world tennis calendar limits for the moment the breakage for the Swiss to 103 titles (to six units from the Connors record), which initially planned to return to the courts for the season on grass in early summer.

He has - and will only - played one tournament in 2020, the Australian Open, where he reached the last four, before losing, physically diminished, against Novak Djokovic, future winner.

But the rest of the circuit has not played much more for the moment, his direct opponents Rafael Nadal and Djokovic leading. At this point, Wimbledon is canceled, Roland-Garros postponed to the fall, and the US Open surrounded by questions.

And the postponement to the summer of 2021 of the Tokyo Games expediently postpones by one year the last big challenge of his career, the quest for Olympic gold in singles, which has eluded him so far.

The Balois won a silver medal in singles in 2012 in London, beaten by Andy Murray in the final, and crowned in doubles, with Stan Wawrinka, four years earlier in Beijing. He did not participate in the Rio Games in 2016.

Federer, whose 2020 season can be summed up as six games, had not played as little since the year he went professional in 1998 (5 games on the main circuit).

© 2020 AFP