Federer makes winning return after 13 months out
DOHA: Roger Federer won his first match contested in over a year on Wednesday as the 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to beat British No 1 Dan Evans at the Qatar Open.
Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, still proved a tough opponent for an in-form Evans who ultimately succumbed 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 7-5 after an epic tussle lasting two hours and 24 minutes.
The Swiss great had not played a match since a semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020 — 405 days ago — and acknowledged it was unusual for a player of his age to return after injury.
“I don’t know if it was ever completely pain free,” said Federer.
“You get to feel tired and you dont know if it’s the muscle.
“(What’s) important is how I feel tomorrow and the next day for the next six months.”
Federer joked with the umpire at the coin toss about the rules of the sport during Covid-19, having not played since the ATP Tour was suspended last year due to the pandemic.
The 39-year-old had to battle, saving a set point against a player who was a recent training partner.
In the third set, Federer failed to win his first match point.
On the second match point, however, Federer proved too much for his opponent, sealing his comeback win with a backhand down the line, to huge applause.
“I was tired – I was more focused on being tired than winning the point,” he said.
“Dan had more energy left at the end. I thought I played a really, really good match.”
Federer has insisted his recovery from knee surgery was “completely under control” ahead of his return to competitive tennis.
“It’s been a long and tough road for me. To come back at my age is not very simple.”
Federer will turn 40 in August and said that he was hoping to be back to “100 per cent” for Wimbledon in June but had not taken decisions on tournaments before then or the Tokyo Olympics.
Federer is an eight-time Wimbledon winner but has yet to win a singles gold at the Olympics.