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Roger Federer has already had great moments at the Australian Open. But now it has to happen for the first time since 1999.
The fact that Roger Federer has to skip the Australian Open had become apparent in recent weeks and it was not surprising. The first Grand Slam tournament of the year comes too early for the 39-year-old veteran after two knee surgeries in the summer.
It would have been Federer’s 22nd appearance at the Australian Open. The Basel bidder has already won more than 100 singles games and 6 “Happy Slam” titles; only Novak Djokovic has won the prestigious tournament more often with 8 titles.
He debuted more than 20 years ago
Federer made his Melbourne debut in 2000. At that time, names like Gustavo Kuerten, Marat Safin, Andre Agassi or Pete Sampras were still shaping the tennis circus. Federer played a smaller role and never made it past the fourth round in his first 4 appearances. In 2004 followed the first win in Down Under.
The “Maestro” had his best moment at the Australian Open in 2017. At that time, after a six-month injury break, Federer played completely surprisingly in the final, where he defeated his rival Rafael Nadal in 5 sets. and therefore his 18th Grand Slam. Secured title. “The füdliblutte madness,” as SRF commentator Stefan Bürer put it after match point.
In 2018, Federer did the same with his 20th and for the moment last Grand Slam title. Once again, he kept the best finish in a 5-set game, now against Marin Cilic, for him. In 2019, the early exit followed in the fourth round against Stefanos Tsitsipas and a year ago he clearly failed in the semifinals against record winner Novak Djokovic, so far Federer’s last game on the ATP tour.
