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Roger Federer reportedly ‘in good physical shape’ despite Australian Open withdrawal


Roger Federer is in ‘good physical shape’ according to reports, but opted to skip the Australian Open due to Covid restrictions.

Federer underwent double knee surgery this year but had targeted the Melbourne major to make his return.

On Sunday, however, his agent revealed Federer had decided not to travel to Australia.

British newspaper, The Daily Mail, though, claims his decision was not entirely based upon fitness.

According to one well-placed source Federer is in good physical shape, but an additional deterrent to travelling are the Covid measures being imposed, the report says.

The claims also correspond to the views of Federer’s former Davis Cup teammate Marc Rosset.

“Roger Federer never divides family life and tennis,” Rosset told Radio Tele Suisse earlier this month. “It is a whole. He will not choose one or the other.

“He would [have to] play a very tough tournament, with an uncertain form, without the thrill of those emotions that only the public can give, and all without the family at his side.

“Frankly, when you see the constraints imposed on the players, the fact that there shouldn’t be many spectators, and your conditions aren’t yet optimal, you wonder if it is worth taking the risks by going there.

“At 39, he may have something else to do than go to Melbourne in such conditions in two months, maybe stay at home and prepare even better.”


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Michael Graham, Tennishead.net Editor, has been a professional sports journalist for his whole career and is especially passionate about tennis. He's been the Editor of Tennishead.net for over 5 years and loves watching live tennis by visiting as many tournaments as possible. Michael specialises in writing in-depth features about the ATP & WTA tours.