After 13 months of absence, Roger Federer made his comeback within the second spherical of the Doha event on Wednesday March 10. By dominating the Briton Daniel Evans, twenty eighth on the planet, (7-6, 3-6, 7-5), the Swiss, creator of 13 aces with none double fault, was reassured about his degree of play and his bodily situation after a combat of 2h24.
Roger Federer had been ready for 405 days to take again the racket in an official match. We left the Swiss semi-finalist of the 2020 Australian Open in a full Rod Laver Arena, we discover him in Doha on a sparse heart court docket as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. After two arthroscopies undergone in the best knee, many uncertainties existed on the extent of the previous world primary and particularly on the bodily degree. On this second spherical in Doha, Federer was capable of carry out a good check in opposition to Daniel Evans, twenty eighth on the planet, in 2h24 of play. With a victory in the important thing (7-6, 3-6, 7-5), he was ready reassure himself concerning the situation of his knee.
“I don’t know exactly how it’s going to play out, I have a lot of questions around the knee, how I play. I think it’s good to start here”, said the Swiss before starting this tournament. He seems to have had answers about that right knee. From the first set hung with long exchanges, Roger Federer went the distance by showing himself alert and light on his support to pocket him in the tie-break (10-8), even saving a set point.
He was also able to rely heavily on his serve, one of the cornerstones of his game. Not at all embarrassed during each of the pushes to launch his movement, the winner of 20 Grand Slam titles dominated the Briton in this aspect, making 7 aces with 82% of first balls in the first set. During these 13 months of absence, the Swiss did not lose his extraordinary touchdown, offering points of which only he has the secret.
More waste than usual
More confident after this decisive game in his pocket, the Swiss then tried to shorten the exchanges by approaching his baseline and climbing on the fly. But he faced a lot more waste by being less precise than usual to lose that set and be pushed all the way to the third set. Less effective especially in return, he had to wait until the last game of the match to break his opponent and win.
“I was tired at the end of the game,” nevertheless declared the Swiss at the end of the meeting. “He had more energy than me but I served well and I think he helped me a little at the end. (…) It feels good to be back. Winning is much better, it’s really special I’m very happy. “ At the question “How’s the knee? “ Roger Federer replied cautiously: “I don’t know if I haven’t had any pain but the important thing is how I’m going to feel tomorrow. It’s a real challenge for me to come back to my age but it’s worth it because I played a good game today. “
