Doha (AFP)
Roger Federer on Thursday decided to withdraw from the ATP tennis tournament in Dubai, scheduled for next week, after his loss to Qatar in the second round, stressing that it was better for him to "return to training".
The 39-year-old Swiss player was beaten Thursday in Doha by Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, 42nd player in the world, after a thirteen-month absence from the tennis courts.
“It was great to come back to the #atptour, I loved every minute of the game in Doha once again,” tweeted Federer, holder of 20 Grand Slam titles.
“A big thank you to my great and loyal team for making it happen. I decided it was better for me to go back to training and therefore decided to retire from the tournament. Dubai next week, ”he added.
After his semi-final of the Australian Open in January 2020 (lost to Novak Djokovic) and an exhibition match in early February against Rafael Nadal in South Africa, Federer decided to undergo arthroscopy in his right knee, which bothered him. for several years already.
The suspension from the circuit, a more complicated recovery than expected and a second arthroscopy of the same knee in May led him to cut completely from the competition until his return to Doha on Wednesday.
He then needed three sets to beat British player Dan Evans in his first game on Wednesday.
The world No. 6, who will be 40 in August, was visibly not recovered from this first match on Thursday, losing to his Georgian opponent, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Federer has already announced that he will not play the Masters in Miami, Florida this month, preferring to favor the clay and garner as many matches as possible before Wimbledon, the Grand Slam tournament he has won eight times, for four. defeats in the final.
© 2021 AFP