Paris (AFP)

This is the event of the 2019 edition of Roland-Garros: four years after his last participation, ten years after his only coronation, Roger Federer makes his comeback on clay Paris. From Sunday, on the Central Court obviously.

Porte d'Auteuil, his last match dates back to June 2, 2015, when he lost in the quarterfinals to the future winner, his compatriot Stan Wawrinka (6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7 / 4)).

The year after, Federer had played two tournaments on ocher but his painful back had forced him to give up Roland-Garros. The next two, he had deliberately avoided the entire season on earth to spare himself in sight of Wimbledon.

For his return, his first opponent is the Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 73rd world player but comfortable on the surface. "Not easy at all," suspects the Swiss record twenty Grand Slam crowns.

If Paris has found favor in recent months - he played Bercy for the first time since 2015 last autumn - it's because, even at 37 years, his body allows it.

. In keeping with his body

When he announced his decision at the end of January, Federer had initially justified it by his "desire" to play again on earth. He then advanced his will to "stay in the rhythm rather than make a big break" and the feeling that his body was "strong enough again to cash out surface changes".

It is on this physical fullness that makes the difference that he insisted again on Friday.

"I am very happy to be back here, in good health," said Federer, whose package in Rome before the quarterfinals ten days ago was based on the principle of "precaution".

"Being physically resolves so many problems is a key element at this stage of my career," sums up the Swiss, who is experiencing his 22nd season as a professional player.

Since the summer of 2017, "it is true that I did not have to ask myself too often, my body always gave me the green light and it is a luxury at my age." It was just a question programming, and compared to my family, "he says, delighted that this body of thirty has" reacted well on a surface on which (he) had (s) not played for years. "

. With what ambitions?

Win three or four matches would satisfy him, he repeats.

But "knowing him a little, I can tell you that, even if he said: + If I win a few games, I'll be happy +, he comes here with great ambitions, he's too strong to settle for two wins and to go out prematurely, "said tournament director Guy Forget with AFP.

"He is still N.3 world, he moves as well and fast as before ... If he manages to spend the first week without leaving too many feathers, I do not see why he would not do a quarter or a half -final ", he predicts.

"I do not know exactly what to expect, it's a little unknown": Federer compares his state of mind to the one who lived at the Australian Open in 2017, when he had done his return to the circuit after a six-month break following a left knee surgery.

Does he think he can impose himself? "It's a bit of a question mark, I feel like I'm playing good tennis, but is that enough, especially against the best players, when it's really important?" Asks I'm not sure it's + in my racket, but I hope I can put myself in this position, far in the tournament, against the best. "

. A last Roland-Garros?

Before a possible clash with Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, his first week is full of clay specialists, with Sonego, then potentially Italian Matteo Berrettini and Argentina's Diego Schwartzman.

"There is a generation of young people who will perhaps see him for the first time and who thinks: + And if it was the last one, we absolutely want to be there +", describes Forget.

Federer himself does not know what tomorrow will be like: "If you are going to see me in Madrid next year, as a player, perhaps, as a tourist, maybe I have no idea", answered he early May, asked about his plans for the upcoming season.

? 2019 AFP