Roger Federer (Photo : Getty Images)
Roger Federer may not win a Gold Medal in what could be his last appearance at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, according to latest prediction for the Swiss Maestro.
One of ESPN tennis analyst Peter Bodo's bold predictions this year include Federer's fate at the Olympic Games in August.
According to Bodo, Federer, who is looking to represent his country in the tennis category, will not win the competition's singles Gold as the competition's unpredictable nature and compressed schedule.
"The tennis schedule in Rio is compressed into nine days for all three events (singles, doubles, mixed doubles)," Bodo wrote. "On top of that, the Olympics have a history of producing upsets and unexpected heroes."
Federer has won a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012, but it was in the doubles category with fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka. The world No. 3 had a chance to win the coveted prize at the quadrennial event, but fell short against Andy Murray in the final round, settling for a silver medal achievement.
One agreeable point from Bodo's prediction is Federer coming off a knee surgery that limited the 34-year-old Swiss early in the season.
Federer has not played a competitive match since undergoing a successful operation to repair a torn left meniscus. The Swiss was supposed to have his first competitive match at the Miami Open, but a stomach virus has forced him to withdraw from the tournament and delayed his much-awaited return to tennis action.
Nevertheless, the 17-time Grand Slam winner, who is set to test his newly-repaired knee at the Monte Carlo Masters next week to start his clay-court season, is looking forward to the Rio Olympics in what will be his fifth appearance at the most celebrated sporting event in the world.
Federer said the Olympic Games are "massively important" for him and admitted that it is one of his main goals this season.
"It's big," Federer told ITF Tennis. "This is my first time to Rio so I'm really excited about that. Obviously the Olympic Games for me are massively important."
"It's going to be different and it's clearly one of the big main goals for me of the season."
