Wife told Federer to give Aussie Open a miss

ROGER FEDERER’S absence from next month’s Australian Open is less down to injury and more due to strict quarantine measures for him and his family. In a frank interview Andre Sa, the tournament’s director of player relations, revealed that Federer’s wife Mirka did not approve of him being away from his family for over a month. When the decision to skip Melbourne was announced just after Christmas, the emphasis was on him not being ready to compete. The Swiss star (right) has not played since January 30 due to knee problems that have required two minor surgeries. But Sa, who is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist, told a different story when interviewed by Ace BandSports, a platform in his native Brazil. ‘The main reason was the quarantine,’ said Sa. ‘I talked to him a month ago and he had two options. Come with the whole family and quarantine. The problem is that Mirka and her children couldn’t leave the room. They would have to stay 14 days in the room. The exception is only for players. He could go out, train and come back, but the family couldn’t. Mirka did not approve. ‘The other option would be for him to come alone. Only then he would be at least five weeks away from his family and children. And then he said, “Dude, 39, four kids, 20 Grand Slams. I no longer need to be away from my family for five weeks”.’ The 39 year-old is expected to make his comeback at the Dubai Open in February.

• SURREY’S Jodie Burrage last night came close to upsetting Heather Watson in an all-Brit clash at the WTA season opener in Abu Dhabi. Watson, ranked 205 places higher at 58, won their firstround match 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. World No29 Dayana Yastremska has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for outlawed substance mesterolone. Yastremska issued a statement, denying taking a banned substance.