Barca pummel P23 Hercules 7-0 SPORTS 2424 Friday, December 23, 2016 Federer steps up

London “So excited to be playing time since 1999 he’d missed returnoger Federer stepped up again, I have no pain now,” any of the sport’s four majors. his highly-anticipated Federer said. During his match at comebackR to tennis after a Wimbledon with Raonic, six-month injury break with a Tough year Federer slipped on the grass, practice session broadcast live The former world No.1 landing on his surgically from Dubai on his social media player will play the mixed repaired left knee. Less 15th-ranked Frenchman accounts. team Hopman Cup in Perth, than three weeks later, he Lucas Pouille. The session, shown on Australia with fellow Swiss announced he’d made “the “It’s been a lot of fun, going Federer’s Twitter and Periscope Belinda Bencic January 1-7 difficult decision” to sit out the on court, going crazy,” he accounts, has been watched by before heading to Melbourne rest of the 2016 season to heal said. nearly 500,000 people. for the Australian Open in the his knee. After his drive to the The 17-time grand slam second half of the month. “The first three months were practice courts, Federer was champion has been off the It has been a tough and extremely slow,” Federer said filmed warming up for about men’s circuit since he lost to unusual year for Federer, who from Dubai. “It was all about 10 minutes as he used a Canada’s Milos Raonic in the turned 35 in August. rehabbing the knee, giving it a skipping rope, a Swiss ball and Wimbledon semifinals in July Shortly after the Australian sufficient break. I’ve now been juggled tennis balls with his with a knee injury. Open, he had the first surgery in full tennis for about two or physical trainer. Driving himself to practice of his long career after he tore a three weeks.” Federer appeared to be in while being filmed by his meniscus in his left knee while good spirits, telling viewers: coach, Ivan Ljubicic, Federer bathing his children. A bad “Going crazy” “It’s 25 degrees, starting to feel said he “couldn’t wait to start” back then forced him out of the In the past two weeks, Federer it now. No, I’m joking.” (cnn. the 2017 season. French Open in May, the first has been training in Dubai with com) Roger Federer Crystal Palace sack Pardew, Allardyce in the frame London They have won just four Leading English bookmakers 2014/15, the 2015/16 season lan Pardew has been sacked of their 17 matches and only William Hill make him even culminated in only narrowly as Crystal Palace manager one of their last 11, and are money favourite to replace missing out on winning the Awith the club just above the presently only a point above Pardew. FA Cup as well as securing relegation places, the Premier the relegation places. “I would like to put on our place for a League side’s chairman Steve The immediate frontrunner record our sincere gratitude record breaking fourth time.” Parish said yesterday. to replace Pardew appeared for the tremendous service Parish said Pardew, who Pardew, 55, guided Palace to be , whose Alan has given us, both in played for the club as well to last season’s FA Cup final England reign lasted just his time here as manager and and described his return when where they lost to Manchester one match before he had to previously as a player,” said appointed manager in early United in extra time but their resign after making ill-advised Parish in a statement published 2015 as a homecoming, had left Premier League form this term remarks to undercover on the club website. “Following a legacy which would benefit Alan Pardew has been poor. reporters. a fantastic second half of Palace for years to come. (AFP) (file pic)

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