Rafael Nadal may have another Grand Slam in him before he retires but Roger Federer doesn’t, reckons Eurosport tennis reporter Fernando Gomez. Federer and Nadal are currently neck and neck at the top of the men’s game on 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Federer is five years older than his old rival though and is on his way back from two knee surgeries in 2020.
The Swiss legend has already ruled himself out of the Australian Open, which takes place in February.
Nadal will once again be favourite for the French Open in May and June after winning his 13th title at Roland Garros last year.
Gomez reckons this year could be Federer’s last before he hangs up his racket.
He would like to see him exit on a high but does not think that will be with Grand Slam success.
“The season may have more similarities than we think with 2020, what I am clear about is that 2021 will not be the year of change either,” Gomez said.
“We are going to see the irregular [Daniil] Medvedev where he finds the peak of form and if that gives him to win a Grand Slam, from the rest I do not expect anything special.
“I would like Federer to be able to say goodbye in conditions if this is his last year, that he can compete, although it will be very difficult to see him win a Grand Slam.
“Looking at the ranking beyond the top 10, I’d like to see Alex de Minaur, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz making the leap. These are the ones I would pay more attention to.”
Gomez also thinks Nadal has only got one or two years left in him at the top of the sport.
But he reckons he is more likely to add to his haul of major titles.
“It may be the last or the penultimate great season of Rafa Nadal in which he can lift another Grand Slam title,” the Spaniard added.
“With players like Roberto Bautista or Pablo Carreno, I would be satisfied if they maintained the level of recent seasons and, possibly, the retirements of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco will begin to be very close.
“We signed to end the year with six or seven Spaniards in the top 100.”