Doha, Qatar: After more than a year out, Roger Federer started his 24th season on tour with a win.
It was far from easy for the former No. 1, though, as he was pushed hard by Dan Evans at the Qatar Open before winning the second-round match 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 7-5 on Wednesday.
Roger Federer had not played since having knee surgery following last year’s Australian Open.Credit:Getty
It was Federer’s first match in 405 days after having knee surgery following the 2020 Australian Open.
“Feels good to be back,” Federer said in an on-court interview. “I’m happy to be standing here regardless of if I won or lost. But obviously winning feels better.”
Playing for nearly two-and-a-half hours tested the 39-year-old Swiss player’s stamina following his long break. Federer saved a set point at 6-5 down in the first-set tiebreaker and saved two break points at 3-3 in the deciding set before sealing the win with a break of Evans’ serve.
He showed flashes of his usual brilliance along the way, clinching the first set with a perfect cross-court backhand winner as Evans charged into the net. Having failed to convert a match point at 5-4 in the decider, he used another backhand down the line to clinch the win on his second attempt.
The former world No.1 next faces Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.Credit:Getty
Federer said he used Evans as a training partner as he prepared for his comeback, playing more than 20 sets against the Briton in the previous weeks.
“It has been a long and tough road for me. I enjoyed it though,” the 20-time grand slam champion said. “It has been a huge challenge of mine in my tennis career and to come back at my age is not something that is very simple.”
