Roger Federer is back!
The Swiss, who has not played a game since the Australian Open 2020, announced on Swiss radio SRF that he would return to the courts at the ATP tournament in Doha (March 8 to 13).
"For the first time, I have the feeling that my knee is ready for competition again," said the No. 5 ATP, 39, who had to undergo two right knee operations last year.
You have to be mentally and physically ready to play 5 matches in 5 days, for example.
For this reason, I return to the Qatar tournament.
"
The man with the 20 Grand Slams, joined by Nadal at the last Roland-Garros, competed in the event seven times (three titles), but had not put his rackets there for nine years.
“It was a long break, too long, continues the Balois.
This is my first attempt to come back to a tournament.
It was therefore important, for the team as for me, that it was a small tournament and not a big one, with all the stress that that implies… "
"Ready to undertake the long and difficult road"
Federer had preferred to ignore the trip to Melbourne, both to take his time and to spare himself the family constraints linked to the health situation.
At the end of December, however, he had left doubt and plunged his fans into fear during the award ceremony for "the greatest Swiss sportsman of the past 70 years".
“I hope I can come back to the court next year.
We'll see.
But if my career had to end there, it would be incredible to end with such a distinction, ”had launched the former world No. 1, opening the door to all speculations… Even if he -almost- won everything , Federer, whose last major title dates back to Australia 2018, still has some fine goals, such as Jimmy Connors' record for tournament wins (109, he is at 103) and above all a gold medal in singles Olympic Games, scheduled for next summer in Tokyo.
“I think it's a good time to try again, he slips.
I want to celebrate great victories and for that I am ready to take the long and difficult road.
"After the longest absence of his career and in view of the competition, the challenge is the excessiveness of the character ...