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Federer on track for Australian Open return

PETER PARKS / AFP / Getty

Roger Federer is optimistic he'll return to the court in January at the Australian Open after undergoing two knee surgeries in 2020.

"I'm on the right track," he said in an interview with German magazine Schweizer Illustrierte., as translated by Reuters. "I'm gradually coming back but I'm going to take my time and don't want to put any pressure on myself.

"I will only take part in a tournament when I am 100% fit. At the moment, it looks like I can make my comeback at the Australian Open in January."

In June, the 20-time Grand Slam champion ruled himself out of the 2020 season after undergoing a second arthroscopic procedure on his right knee. He initially had the procedure performed in February and was expected to miss four months before suffering a setback.

Federer says he's pain-free but added that his training routine is still not where it needs to be.

"Not yet, more than two hours with the racket are not possible at the moment," Federer said. "But I’ve been working on my stamina and strength absolutely without pain for a while. There will be no further operations."

The 39-year-old, whose Grand Slam wins record was equaled by Rafael Nadal at the French Open earlier this month, reached the semifinals at the Australian Open at the beginning of this year.

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