Tennis great Roger Federer has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open but plans to return in action later in February, his agent told...
Tennis great Roger Federer has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open but plans to return in action later in February, his agent told Associated Press.
Federer was believed to have entered his name for the Major at Melbourne Park where he would have sought a seventh title.
“Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open. He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness. However, after consultation with his team, he decided that the best decision for him in the long run is to return to competitive tennis after the Australian Open,” Federer’s long-time representative Tony Godsick told AP in a statement.
Godsick added that the discussions with Federer will begin soon for tournaments that begin in late February.
While a majority of the top players are said to have committed their names to playing at the delayed season-opening Grand Slam in Australia, there had been question marks over Swiss great Federer, who warned this month he was in a “race against time” to be fit after two rounds of knee surgery. He has been training in Dubai, having missed the last two Majors in 2020.
The opening Grand Slam of the year, which will be played in front...
