To properly prepare for his return after more than a year off and two right-knee surgeries, Roger Federer has chosen to withdraw from the next Australian Open.
Roger Federer has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Australian Open as he continues his preparation to make his come back to court after undergoing 2 operations on his right knee and with a tour absence that has lasted more than a year.
Tony Godsick, Federer's manager and head of TEAM8, stated on Sunday that they are planning the Swiss legend's 2021 season, aiming for a return shortly after the first major of the year concludes.
This marks the conclusion of Federer's 21-year run of consecutive appearances in Melbourne, a streak that started in 2000 and saw him hoist six trophies.
In an official statement, Godsick explained that the withdrawal is necessary for Roger's post-surgery recovery. Although there has been great progress in his physical condition and knee strength lately, Federer and his support team decided it was best to postpone his competitive comeback until after the Australian Open.
Godsick also mentioned that he will be coordinating the details of Federer's tournament schedule for the remainder of the year in the next few weeks.
Currently ranked fifth in the world despite his long absence, the 39-year-old has been spending time coaching in Dubai during his off-season. The choice to push back his return was made after careful deliberation with his coaching staff.
Federer hasn't played a competitive match since the 2020 Australian Open in late January, where he suffered a clear injury during his straight-sets semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic. However, he did appear in a charity exhibition match against Rafael Nadal in Cape Town, playing before a massive crowd of 50,000 people in a football stadium.
A few weeks after that exhibition, Federer announced he had surgery on his right knee. A second procedure on the same knee followed shortly after, forcing him to miss the rest of that season.
While Federer was recovering, Rafael Nadal reached a milestone in October by winning his 20th major at Roland Garros, tying the men's all-time record. Federer took to social media to congratulate him, noting that twenty titles is likely just another milestone in the ongoing journey of both legends.