After 2h24 of the match, the issue.
Roger Federer won his first tournament match on Wednesday after a thirteen month absence and two right knee operations against Briton Daniel Evans (7-6 [10/8], 3-6, 7-5) in the second round in Doha .
The Swiss, 6th in the world, who will be 40 years old in August, showed no sign of physical weakness against the 28th player in the world in this duel concluded with a huge setback that left Evans several meters away.
In the quarter-finals, Federer will face Nikoloz Basilashvili (42nd).
This victory is a small event as the Swiss legend had sowed doubt, even consternation, at the end of last year by letting hover the hypothesis of a retirement.
"I am incredibly happy tonight and happy to finish with a long backhand," he said after the meeting, claiming to have no pain in his knee.
"It has been a long and difficult road"
“With fatigue, you don't really know if it's the muscles or something, but the important thing is how I'm going to feel tomorrow.
It's been a long and difficult road, it's a huge challenge to come back to my age, but it was worth it, because I played a good game, ”he added.
“His majesty” has planned to set foot on the courts of Doha and Dubai in quick succession, to ignore the Miami Masters 1000, of which he is the defending champion, and to come back in dotted lines for the clay court season.