Roger Federer during an exhibition in Cape Town, in February 2020. -

RODGER BOSCH / AFP

Roger Federer, who is making his return to competition at the Doha tournament this week, never considered quitting tennis as he treated an injury that left him off the pitch for thirteen months.

Asked to comment on his state of mind during his convalescence, the 39-year-old champion said at a press conference on Sunday: "retirement has never been an option".

Even we had not felt so affirmative in recent months, in December for example.

"Confident" on his level

Absent since his semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020, he admitted that it was "rare for a 40-year-old to return after a year of absence".

“The important thing is that I am not in pain and that I am not injured.

I'm very happy to be back to play a tournament, I didn't think it would take so long, ”added the former world number 1, who will make his debut against Frenchman Jérémy Chardy or Briton Daniel Evans.

Federer said he was "obviously confident".

"Otherwise I wouldn't put myself in this situation."

I had a vision of myself with the trophy!

He laughed.

On his rivalry for the title of best player in history with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the latter surpassing his record of 310 weeks at the top of the ATP ranking this week, Federer said it was "still a great one. debate ".

“What Novak and Rafa have been doing lately is amazing, but they're not 25 anymore,” he said with a smile.

“Novak won in Australia, Rafa in France.

They seem to be at their peak, which is great for tennis and for debate ”.

"I only worry about my own health, my own game more than the record (of the twenty Grand Slam titles that he shares with Nadal)".

For the rest of the season, Federer said he hopes to return to "100%" for Wimbledon in June, but has yet to make a decision on which tournaments will go ahead before that date or for the Games. Olympic.

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