After a year-long absence from the Tour Roger Federer has confirmed that his eagerly awaited comeback will take place next month in the Middle East.
The 20-timer Grand Slam champion hasn’t played on the ATP Tour since his semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020. Since then the 39-year-old has been sidelined by a right knee injury which required two surgical procedures. The second surgery was conducted after the first failed to produce the results which Federer had expected.
Originally it had been hoped that the former world No.1 would be fit in time for the Australian Open but he was unable to do so. It is the first time he will not be playing in the main draw at Melbourne Park since 1999 which is more than two years before Italy’s Jannik Sinner was born.
“I’ve been thinking for a long time about when and where to come back. Australia was a touch too early because of my knee,” Federer said during an interview with Swiss Radio and Television (SRF).
“That hurts. It’s one of the places where I love to play the most.”
Instead the venue of his comeback will be the Qatar Open in Doha. An ATP 250 event which Federer has previously won in 2005, 2006 and 2011. It will be the first time he has played a ATP match in the city for nine years.
“I wanted to make my comeback at a smaller tournament so that I wasn’t fully in focus and where the stress is also a little less,” he explained about his reason to play in Qatar.
Due to a change in the ATP ranking system due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Federer’s absence hasn’t had a significant impact on his position compared to what could have happened. He is still ranked fifth in the world rankings.
Looking further ahead Federer has confirmed his intention to play on the clay again before what will be the main goal of his season – the summer. In July and August his focus will be on trying to win another Wimbledon trophy, as well as the Olympic Games where he is yet to win a gold medal in the singles. Federer is a former Olympic champion in the doubles after triumphing with Stan Wawrinka in 2008.
“After Doha I would like to play another tournament and then I plan to prepare for clay, with a focus later on Halle, Wimbledon and the Olympics.”
As the oldest player in the top 100 Federer says it is his desire to win more matches which is driving him to continue his career. This July will mark the 23rd anniversary of when he made his ATP Tour debut at the Gstaad Open in Switzerland.
“I like to play tennis for life. In the last few months I have given a lot in rehab, in the conditioning area. I had to go through it, but I always enjoyed it,” he said.
“I want to celebrate great victories again. And for that I am ready to go on the long, hard road.”
Federer has won 103 ATP titles and spent a record 310 weeks as world No.1.
