Roger Federer's coach, Severin Luthi, says the 17-time Grand Slam champion has not been on a practice court since Wimbledon, but is working to rehabilitate his injuries.
The world No. 3 announced this week that he would not play again this season, but plans to make a full comeback.
Federer underwent knee surgery following the Australian Open, then injured his back during the clay season, withdrawing from the French Open. He then returned on grass courts. Luthi indicated, however, that Federer was still experiencing physical issues coming into Wimbledon, and it appears that they were exacerbated at the All England Club.
"Since Wimbledon, we hoped he could play again rapidly,” Luthi told Swiss newspaper *Tages-Anzeiger*. “But we have not even been on the practice court since, which is why this step became obvious ... If Wimbledon did not mean so much, he probably also would have not played it."
However, he added that "it is not concerning.”
“He has just not played tennis,” Luthi said. “He is working with the physio ... This means he is rebuilding the whole muscle structure, the back and the leg ... If he had to play tennis today, he could do that also. The question is at what level and with what price."
According to Luthi, Federer's fall in the Wimbledon semifinals did not affect his decision to take the rest of the season off.
"No, it has nothing to do with this fall," he said. "There he had a moment of being afraid, because he did not know what had happened and because he was not fully fit. Till now, he has had few experiences with injuries."
Luthi added that some of Federer’s other physical issues might have played a part in the Swiss suffering a knee injury.
"I could be wrong,” he said. “But for me, in retrospect, the back also has something to do with the knee."
He said the team would now develop a detailed schedule. Federer will work with his physiotherapist on his injuries, and can have a longer session with his physical trainer than he usually does while playing. Then he will return to the practice courts, barring a setback.
"The knee does not need surgery,” he said. “That's important. He now wants … to get back to the state where he can compete 100 percent again."
Luthi said he is "entirely convinced" that Federer will return, describing him as "positive and inspired.”
“Usually, the coach would, for weeks, have to pump up the player,” he said. “With him, it's different."
Federer has also been coached by Ivan Ljubicic since the beginning of the season.