Roger Federer (Photo : Getty Images)
World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka has great faith that his compatriot Roger Federer will remain the Swiss Maestro despite his latest injury.
Wawrinka has nothing but praises for Federer, who suffered a knee injury a day after his defeat against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last month.
"The Maestro is always the Maestro, because of all the things he has done in his career," Wawrinka told RMC Sport. "To me he is the greatest player of all time."
Federer successfully underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery that repaired his torn left meniscus. While the Swiss assured fans via Twitter that he is beginning rehab, the time span for Federer's recovery could mean less preparation for Roland Garros, the next Grand Slam event of 2016.
According to Blick, a source close to Federer, the Swiss is expected to be out of competition for six to eight weeks. The 17-time Grand Slam winner is bound to miss tournaments in Rotterdam and Dubai, as well as the 2016 BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open in California.
"Federer has rarely missed time due to injury in his career, but it looks like he will try to come back for Masters 1000 Indian Wells," Jeremy Eckstein of Bleacher Report wrote.
"If not, it's possible he could participate in a surprising tournament or two, because Indian Wells was his last scheduled tournament before taking two months off until the French Open."
But the bigger concern for the 34-year-old Swiss is the time left to train for the French Open, where he would battle the likes of Djokovic, Andy Murray, and nine-time champion Rafael Nadal.
It remains to be seen whether a knee injury could slow down Federer, but it could be a burden against tougher opponents in a major tournament.
Meanwhile, Wawrinka is set to participate at Open 13 in Marseille next week.
It will be the Swiss' first competition after losing to Canada's Milos Raonic in the fourth round of the Australian Open. He will then join Djokovic at the Dubai Tennis Championship on Feb. 22 before heading for the Indian Wells in March.
