PARIS: Former males’s tennis world primary Roger Federer, suffering from recurring knee issues for the final two years, will play singles on the ATP Basel indoor tournament in October, organisers mentioned on Tuesday (Apr 26).
Federer, who hasn’t performed competitively since shedding final July in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon to Pole Hubert Hurkacz, replied to the organisers’ Instagram announcement with the message: “Looking forward to playing back home.”
The tournament, just like the 10-time winner, will be making its return after an enforced break having not taken place for the previous two years as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the Swiss Indoors Basel will return to the ATP Tour in the fall of 2022,” organisers mentioned in an announcement.
“10-time singles champion and hometown hero Roger Federer has announced his comeback to the stadium at St Jakobshalle,” including that “the worldwide interest … is expected to be tremendous”.
Federer, who turns 41 in August, can also be as a consequence of play in the three-day Laver Cup workforce occasion with long-time rival Rafael Nadal in London in September.
The duo teamed as much as play doubles on the inaugural occasion in 2017.
Federer withdrew from the Olympics final yr and underwent his third bout of knee surgical procedure in 18 months, to “suture” his proper inner meniscus and “treat (his) cartilage”.
Federer performed simply 13 matches in 2021, having performed solely six occasions in 2020.
Federer has 20 profession Grand Slam titles, tied for second with Novak Djokovic and one behind document holder Rafael Nadal, who received the season-opening Australian Open.
Federer’s most up-to-date Grand Slam title got here on the 2018 Australian Open.
Source : channelnewsasia.com