Roger Federer hurt his knee in the most "Dad" way possible
In the ultimate #dadlife injury, Roger Federer revealed Thursday that the knee injury he suffered after the Australian Open and kept him out of competition for two months happened when he slipped as he was giving his kids a bath. Been there, brother.
Federer, who had just been eliminated from the Australian Open after a semifinals loss to Novak Djokovic, said he was prepping a bath for his twin daughters (with two sets of twins, there have to be multiple bath times at the Federer abode) when he turned around and heard a click, he told reporters.
The Fed didn't think much of it at first, but then saw swelling in his knee. Doctors diagnosed it as a torn meniscus and Federer had surgery soon after.
The all-time Grand Slam champion, who has been remarkably durable during his ATP career, made a quick recovery. He was on crutches for 12 days and has practiced normally over the past nine days. When he announced he'd return in Miami, it seemed weird he'd come back so quickly. He's 34. This was his first major surgery. Why rush it? But Federer seemed to have zero worries and if that's the case, then why not?
(Pedro Portal/El Nuevo Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
His first match is Friday against Juan Martin Del Potro, who stunned him in the 2009 U.S. Open final and is making his own return from injuries (though Delpo's have kept him out of the sport far longer). Presumably, Federer will let Mirka handle bath-time duties tonight.
By the way, don't laugh at Federer's bath-time injury. As a dad of a toddler I can relate. With toys strewn about everywhere and 2-year olds darting out from behind walls and sneaking through your legs unannounced, you have to walk around hyper-vigilant. Melissa & Doug toys are my landmines. I fully expect that one day I'm going to eat it and a six-inch Olaf toy will be my undoing. Thanks, Olaf.
