Tennis superstar Roger Federer on Sunday confirmed that he will play the French Open this year, having missed the 2020 event at Roland Garros due to surgery. The former number one had missed most of last season as he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Federer took to Twitter to inform his followers that he would return to Paris this year.
“Hi everyone! Happy to let you know that I will play Geneva and Paris. Until then I will use the time to train. Can’t wait to play in Switzerland again,” he tweeted.
Hi everyone!
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 18, 2021
Happy to let you know that I will play Geneva🇨🇭 and Paris 🇫🇷. Until then I will use the time to train. Can’t wait to play in Switzerland again. ❤️🚀
The French Open will begin on May 30, a week later than originally scheduled due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, with France putting in place a lockdown till mid-May. The claycourt event will be staged from May 30 to June 13, two weeks before the expected start of Wimbledon.
The 20-time grand slam champion has lifted the title at Roland Garros only once in 2009. His last appearance here was in 2019 when he lost the semifinal to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
Federer has not won a tour clay title since Istanbul in 2015.
The 39-year-old returned to action following his recovery from surgery in the Qatar Open in March, his only tournament this year. He lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the quarterfinals, ending his comeback campaign.
Federer’s two main objectives in 2021 are a bid for his ninth Wimbledon crown and a gold medal in singles at the Tokyo Olympics.
