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Swiss tennis player Roger Federer made a triumphant return in Doha after 13 months away from the courts due to injury.The current number 6 in the ATP ranking, who will turn 40 in August, showed no signs of physical weakness in an epic two-hour battle and average against the British Daniel Evans (N.28), whom he defeated by a tight 7-6 (10/8), 3-6 and 7-5.
In the next round, Federer will face Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili (N.42).
“It feels good to be back; for being here without looking if I win or lose ”, declared after the match the winner of 20 Grand Slam tournaments (a record that he shares with the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, but which is also threatened by the 18 that Novak Djokovic has.
This was Federer’s first match after thirteen months of absence from the courts and two knee surgeries.
Also this Wednesday, Roberto Bautista beat the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (44th) by 6-4 and 6-3 and will be measured in the quarterfinals against a Thiem who had to come back against the Russian Aslan Karatsev (45th and recent semifinalist at the Australian Open) , which he beat 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 and 6-2.
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The Qatar Open is held on a hard surface and distributes $ 787,930 in prizes.
Source: AFP
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