Prior to his loss to Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati, Roger Federer discussed his history of back issues. The Swiss struggled with a sore back at post-Wimbledon clay court tournaments in Gstaad and Hamburg.
“I’ve always played very well being hurt, actually, and sometimes that has caused problems for me that I should have retired many matches throughout my career but I didn’t,” said Federer, who added that he is healthy again. “And some of those, I guess, I took chances. Some other times it really wasn’t worth it to put myself in that position in some moments I’ve been again this year.
“But I believe when I can walk and I can hit decent, you never know. So I give myself the opportunity. Sometimes miracles happen, like last year at Wimbledon. You get a bit lucky or you heal well, get the extra day off, and all that stuff. I mean, I definitely have to also understand that sometimes it’s better not to play. But very often also I’ve sort of been able to take advantage of toughing it out and then eventually coming through and actually feeling great at the end of the tournament, like Wimbledon last year.”