Roger Federer still making waves despite Australian Open absence

Roger Federer may not be at the Australian Open in 2021, but he’s still managing to make waves at Melbourne Park.

The 20-time grand slam champion left fans gutted in December when he announced he wouldn’t be travelling to Australia for the year’s first grand slam event.

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Federer said his surgically-repaired knee still wasn’t ready, however it later emerged that the Swiss superstar wasn’t willing to put his family through 14 days of quarantine.

Despite being missing from Melbourne Park in 2021, Federer is still making his prescence felt.

The 39-year-old took to Twitter on Monday to congratulate Tom Brady after the NFL legend led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl title at age 43.

Brady was named MVP after capturing his seventh Super Bowl ring (six with New England and one with Tampa Bay), more than any other franchise has in total.

Posting a photo of himself with Brady and another alongside Brady’s wife Giselle Bundchen holding up a peace sign, Federer wrote: “Giselle 2 plus 5 equals 7.

“What an inspiring achievement Tom Brady. Age is just a number.”

That statement had fans frothing over the possibility of watching Federer play until he’s 43 like Brady.

Nick Kyrgios asked about Federer in presser

And Federer’s name was also part of discussions during Nick Kyrgios’ post-match press conference on Monday night.

After winning through to the second round, Kyrgios was asked who he considers to be the greatest tennis player of all time.

“I don’t think we have ever seen someone maybe so dominant in their period of time as Novak (Djokovic), like he went on that obviously 60-match winning streak or something really crazy,” said Kyrgios.

“I think in my opinion I believe Roger is the greatest of all time. With his skill set, the way he plays the game, I think it’s pure.

“I actually think talent-wise Nadal and Djokovic aren’t even close to Roger. Talent-wise, just purely based on talent the way Federer plays, his hands, his serving, his volleys, untouchable.

“Rafa you will never see someone so dominant on one surface ever. I don’t think we will ever see that amazing accomplishment on clay, the best clay courter of all time.

“It’s funny, because I think Roger is the greatest of all time but not the greatest of the era because his head-to-head against Rafa is not great. But it’s a tough one.”

Kyrgios even managed to take a cheeky dig at Djokovic in the process.

“Me personally, I played them all. I actually think Andy [Murray] for me was tougher than Novak to play,” he said.

“I mean, I have only played Novak twice. I have played Andy six times and I’m 1-5.

“I actually think I match up quite well against Nadal. I can serve big and play kind of the right style of tennis to be successful against him. Styles make fights in tennis. All the match-ups are different.

“Roger’s chopped me a couple of times. Roger makes you feel like you’re really bad at tennis sometimes.

“He walks around, he flicks his head, and I’m, like, I don’t even know what I’m doing out here. Roger is the greatest, for me.”

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