By Daily sports on December 29, 2020
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from two rounds of knee surgery, organisers said Monday.
The 39-year-old Swiss has been out of action since February but recently resumed training and was on the entry list for year’s opening Grand Slam, which will make a delayed start on February 8.
Federer, a huge favourite with the Melbourne crowds, hasn’t missed the Australian Open since his debut in 2000, winning the trophy six times.
“In the end Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigours of a Grand Slam and he’s very disappointed he won’t be coming to Melbourne in 2021,” said tournament chief Craig Tiley.
“We wish him all the best as he prepares for his comeback later in the year and look forward to seeing him in Melbourne in 2022.”
Federer sat out most of the Covid-disrupted 2020 season after losing to Novak Djokovic in the Melbourne semis in January, his last competitive match.
He underwent keyhole surgery on his right knee in February, before needing a follow-up operation and calling off his season to recover.
The Swiss could only watch as Rafael Nadal matched his all-time men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles with a 13th victory at the French Open.
Federer will now concentrate on getting himself ready for the rest of the 2021 season, which includes the Tokyo Olympics and the chance of his first singles gold medal.
“He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness,” his agent Tony Godsick said in a statement.
“I will start discussions this coming week for tournaments that begin in late February and then start to build a schedule for the rest of the year,” Godsick added. (AFP)
•PHOTO: Roger Federer
Source Daily sports
Posted December 29, 2020
You may also like...
Benzema The Saviour As Real Beat Atletico To...
A strange game’ Chelsea’s Maresca reacts to Ipswich...
AFCON: Kalou wary of dangerous Eagles
Uefa To Allow Up To 13 000 Fans...
Nigeria Vs Atletico Madrid: Diego Simeone hails Super...
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History, Becomes All-time Top European...
Nigerians demand apology from Carragher for controversial AFCON statement
National lightweight title win thrills Adebayo
Rivers Deputy Governor Denies Resignation Rumours, Pledges Support for Governor Fubara
Why Do You Think Fubara Will Allow What You Didn’t Allow – Briggs Asks Tinubu
NOC Women's Commission Celebrates International Women's Day
Ijaw National Congress Threatens Chaos Over Rivers Governor’s Impeachment
Fubara vs. Wike: “Plot To Doctor Supreme Court Judgement Uncovered”
NFF, Fulham back Bassey after racist abuse
Bolaji, four others for Para Badminton International C’ship
Nigeria to host 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling tournament
U-20 AFCON: F’Eagles to resume camping March 10
Rivers Saga: Don’t Beg Wike, We Will Show FG – Rivers Elders To Fubara
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,342 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,486 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,510 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,152 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,114 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,106 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,919 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,463 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,552 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,213 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,650 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,076 views)