After skipping 13 months with a knee injury that required two surgeries last year, Roger Federer returned to the pitch in March in Doha. The Swiss beat Daniel Evans in a close encounter before losing match point to Nikoloz Basilahvili and taking another break.
Roger entered Geneva and Roland Garros on clay to get back in shape and return to his best in front of Halle and Wimbledon. At 39, Roger played well in Paris to secure three wins and qualify for the last 16 as the oldest player in the Open era.
Roger kicked off the Parisian campaign with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Denis Istomin in one hour and 33 minutes, in his first major game in nearly 500 days! Playing sharp and aggressive tennis, the Swiss fell 13 points behind the initial shot and kept the pressure on the other side to control the scoreboard.
Federer converted five of 13 break opportunities and crossed the finish line. In the second round, Roger beat former rival Marin Cilic 6-2, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 in two hours and 35 minutes to reach the last 32. Federer claimed the tenth victory over Cilic in 11 games and fifth in a row, shooting 16 aces and suffering three breaks from eight chances offered to Marin while converting five chances on the return.
The Swiss lost a tight third set before bouncing back and sealing the deal in the fourth.
Novak Djokovic shared his thoughts on Roger Federer’s withdrawal.
In the third game, Federer had to give his 120% to knock down Dominik Koepfer 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 in three hours and 35 minutes during the night session.
The veteran broke through the top with a late break in the fourth set of his biggest test since last year’s Australian Open to enter the final 16. Stressing his knee like never before in the past 15 months, Federer decided to skip the shock of the fourth round. against Matteo Berrettini and rest before Halle, who started the following week.
Asked about Roger’s decision, the world number. 1 Novak Djokovic said the withdrawal was a surprise, although he understands that Roger knows his current fitness best. “It was a bit surprising to see Roger’s withdrawal, but only he knows how he feels physically.
It’s a shame for the event; he’s Federer after all, and I think everyone wanted to watch him for at least one more game. He is totally within his rights if he has physical problems, ”said Novak Djokovic.
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