Roger Federer has lauded British tennis hero Andy Murray ahead of Wimbledon (Picture: Getty)
Roger Federer has fired a message to ‘special man’ Andy Murray and hailed his comeback as ‘incredible’ as the British legend gets ready for Wimbledon.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray was warned by doctors he would not play professional tennis again before he underwent career-saving surgery.
The 36-year-old now plays with a metal hip and has worked his way back inside the world top 50, winning two titles on the ATP Challenger Tour this year.
Those came at the clay-court Open du Pays d’Aix in May before Murray lifted his first trophy on grass in seven years at the Surbiton Trophy on Sunday.
Murray, who won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, still feels he is capable of beating the best players in the world his favourite grass service.
Federer, who has registered a record eight men’s singles titles at Wimbledon, has sent message to the former world No.1 ahead of this year’s Championships.
‘He just won a Challenger in Surbiton last week,’ Federer said. ‘He won that the same week as Novak [Djokovic] got to this incredible record of 23 Slams [in Paris] and Andy’s plugging away at Surbiton – that also deserves so much respect.
‘I’m a big fan of Andy’s and I wish him all the best for Wimbledon. That’s his best surface in my mind, especially nowadays.
‘So I hope he wins many, many rounds at Wimbledon in a couple of weeks. Andy is a special man and I’m very happy he’s still able to play. He loves it. He truly loves it.
‘I think with all his complications he’s had with his hip it’s amazing to see that he’s still going. What he’s going through and what he’s achieving with what he’s gone through is incredible.’
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Federer also congratulated Novak Djokovic for winning his 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open.
‘I thought what Novak did is incredible,’ Federer added. ‘Honestly, it’s great for tennis, great for sports when tennis writes its own history and keeps on adding to it like we’ve seen with Serena Williams as well, Rafa then myself and now with Novak.
‘It’s a great time in tennis to be a fan as well, but also a player. I remember when I came on tour, and Pete Sampras reached 14 we thought ‘Okay, that one is going to stay forever’ – then I went to 15.
‘I eventually ended up at 17, and then we pushed each other to 20, I don’t remember who was first, and then Rafa pushed it to 22.
‘Then now Novak pushed it to 23 and he looks like he’s going to keep on doing that for a long time still to come, which is great. And I wish him all the best.
‘I think also the way he’s doing it still – he isn’t the youngest anymore, we forget. He looks young and he does it in a young way, but it’s not easy, and I thought it was an amazing victory. So I couldn’t have been more happy.’
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‘I hope he wins many, many rounds at Wimbledon!’