Federer plots path to Wimbledon

Roger Federer will make his long-awaited comeback at the Qatar Open next month as he commences a schedule designed to peak for Wimbledon and the Olympics.

Switzerland's Roger Federer is skipping the Australian Open as he plots his way back from a knee injury

Even during a manic Australian Open build-up, it was an announcement from Switzerland that drew the attention of the tennis world.

Roger Federer will make his long-awaited comeback at the Qatar Open next month as he commences a schedule designed to peak for attempts at a ninth Wimbledon title and first Olympic singles gold medal.

Federer, 39, has not played on tour since January last year, when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

He had two operations on his right knee and had targeted a return in Melbourne this month before deciding that the quarantine protocols could pose a risk to his body after a long period of rehabilitation.

Instead, Doha will host Federer’s comeback at an ATP tournament from March 8-13. Another notable stop on his calendar is Paris for the French Open in May, a tournament which he has only played once in the past five years.

“I thought long and hard about when and where to come back,” Federer told the Swiss broadcaster SRF. “Australia was still a bit too early because of my knee. I want to celebrate great victories once again. And for that, I’m willing to go the long, hard way. I will also try to play on clay again. The whole thing, of course, is with a view to Halle (an ATP grass-court event), Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open.”

Drug-testing in tennis fell by almost 60 per cent last year because of logistical difficulties posed by the pandemic.

The International Tennis Federation, the governing body responsible for the sport’s anti-doping program, released figures this week that showed a reduction in the spot tests carried out both in and out of competition. After collecting 7773 urine and blood samples from players in 2019, that number dropped to 3282 in 2020.

“COVID-19 [led to] a significantly reduced competition calendar, and the imposition of extensive restrictions to movement and access worldwide,” an ITF statement read.

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