Today, the 39-year-old had a match ball against the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili but lost 6-3, 1-6.5-7 in the third round.
- I'm not one hundred percent yet.
I can feel it, I can see it, you know.
From that point of view, it is important to be one hundred percent for the grass season.
I know about it and am still building myself up.
This was a step in the right direction, says Federer according to AP.
Federer had planned to make a comeback in connection with the Australian Open a month ago but felt that he was not in phase for that challenge and shot at the comeback to Doha.
Great for Basilashvili to defeat Federer
For Basilashvili, the victory was special.
- It's unbelievable, he is one of the best of all time.
Just being able to play against him means so much to me, says the 29-year-old in the victory interview.
- I am very happy that he is back in the game again.
Defeating him is a dream come true, he has always been my idol.
He's a great player.
When Federer operated on his knee in 2016 and missed the Olympics in Rio, he said that he then wanted to extend his career by one or two years.
It has now been almost five years since then for the 20-time Grand Slam winner who turns 40 in August.