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The AP news agency reported on Monday, citing a statement from Federer’s manager Tony Godsick. The plan was to get back on the tennis court after the first big tennis tournament of the year, he said. “Roger has decided not to play the Australian Open in 2021,” he said. The 39-year-old Swiss has made great strides in both his knees and his fitness in recent months. “However, after consulting with his team, he decided that in the long term it would be the best decision for him to return to professional tennis after the Australian Open.”
Federer was on the entry list for the Australian Open. However, by mid-December, the Swiss had already announced that turnout might be low. Not 100 percent yet. The start of the Australian Open had been postponed for three weeks until February 8. This is to give all tennis professionals the opportunity to complete their mandatory two week quarantine prior to entering Australia.
The announcement of Federer’s retirement is a serious blow to the Australian Open organizers. Manager Craig Tiley said Australia was eager to welcome the world’s best players to Melbourne. Melbourne and the state of Victoria have been Covid-19 free for almost two months.
In addition to world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Ashleigh Barty of Australia, the entry list also includes Spaniard Rafael Nadal, winner of 20 Grand Slam titles, and Alexander Zverev of Hamburg. In women and men, it had reported the entire world elite.
