Roger Federer to miss the 2021 Australian Open due to ongoing knee rehab

Roger Federer is withdrawing from the Australian Open while he continues preparing to return to action after two operations on his right knee, the tournament confirmed on Sunday.

Tony Godsick -- Federer's longtime representative and CEO of their management company, TEAM8 -- said he is working on putting together a 2021 tennis calendar for the 20-time Grand Slam champion, who plans to get back on tour soon after the year's first major tennis tournament.

"Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open. He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness. However, after consultation with his team, he decided that the best decision for him in the long run is to return to competitive tennis after the Australian Open," Godsick said in a statement released to the AP.

"I will start discussions this coming week for tournaments that begin in late February and then start to build a schedule for the rest of the year," Godsick said.

The start of the Australian Open's main draw was delayed by three weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic and is now scheduled to begin on Feb. 8 at Melbourne Park.

Federer, 39, has spent more weeks atop the ATP rankings than anyone else but is No. 5 after his hiatus. He is training in his usual offseason home of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The choice to delay his comeback came with input from coaches Severin Luthi and Ivan Ljubicic and fitness coach Pierre Paganini.

"We wish him all the best as he prepares for his comeback later in the year," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement confirming that Federer pulled out of the field, "and look forward to seeing him in Melbourne in 2022.''

Federer hasn't played a tournament match since late January at the 2020 Australian Open, where he was clearly injured while losing in straight sets to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Soon after, Federer played in an exhibition charity event with Rafael Nadal in front of a record tennis crowd of more than 50,000 people at a soccer stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Just weeks later, Federer announced he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and would be sidelined for at least four months. He later had a second procedure on that knee and wound up missing the rest of the pandemic-altered season.

One measure of Federer's popularity: Despite appearing in only six matches in 2020, he recently was voted the winner of the ATP Tour fans' favorite award for the 18th consecutive time.

Until this knee issue, Federer had his career interrupted only once by an operation -- on his left knee in 2016. He sat out the second half of that season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the US Open, but was back at his best when he resumed playing, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2017.

He won the Australian Open again the following year for his sixth trophy there, to go along with eight from Wimbledon, five from the US Open and one from the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

While Federer was sidelined this year, Nadal equaled his men's record for most major championships by collecting his 20th at Roland Garros in October. Federer posted a congratulatory message on social media to Nadal that day, saying he hopes "20 is just another step on the continuing journey for both of us.''

Djokovic's title in Australia this year moved him closer to Federer and Nadal with a total of 17.

espn.com

Well it seems that 2020 will continue it's fine tradition of being the worst year on record right to the very end.  

Also way to depress me hours before my Birthday. 2020 can well and truly fuck off. 

The news is not surprising given what Roger said recently about not being where he wanted to be with his knee rehab. 

But still so disappointing. Australia has always been good to Roger and it's always been so fun to watch him play there. 

Hopefully he can play in Dubai and do well there. Would really love a new champion at the Aussie Open, anyone other than Djokovic or Nadal. Perhaps Thiem will make it his year to shine down under. 

That would be something to see. 

At least all the ladies will still be in the draw. 

Really looking forward to the return of Bianca Andreescu. Hope she can shake things up in Aus. 

And I'm hoping Angie Kerber will have a better year as well. Do not screw this up for me 20201.

Roger Federer congratulates Rafa Nadal tying him for most Grand Slams with 13th Roland Garros win

I have always had the utmost respect for my friend Rafa as a person and as a champion. As my greatest rival over many years, I believe we have pushed each other to become better players. Therefore, it is a true honor for me to congratulate him on his 20th Grand Slam victory. It is especially amazing that he has now won Roland Garros an incredible 13 times, which is one of the greatest achievements in sport. I also congratulate his team, because nobody can do this alone. I hope 20 is just another step on the continuing journey for both of us. Well done, Rafa. You deserve it.

from Roger Federer's Facebook

From one G.A.O.T. to another. ♥ Congrats Rafa on your 20th Grand Slam. 100 wins #13 titles at Roland Garros. Insane. 

Iga Swiatek first Polish player to become a Grand Slam Champion at Roland Garros!

PARIS, France - Polish teenager Iga Swiatek made history in capturing her first Grand Slam title, capping off a pitch-perfect fortnight with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

"I'm just proud of myself," she said to open her post-match press conference. "I've done a great job past two weeks. I wasn't expecting to win this trophy. It's obviously amazing for me. It's a life-changing experience."

The 19-year-old, who lost no more than five games in each of her seven matches, became the first from her country to win a Grand Slam singles title in emphatic style, winning the final six games and dismissing the No.4 seed after one hour and 24 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Both women were playing their first final on the terre battue, though Kenin began 2020 with a maiden major title in Melbourne. Thrice pushed to a final set in the fortnight, the 21-year-old served out a straight-set semifinal win over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to reach the championship match.

"She obviously played a really good match," Kenin said. "She's really hot right now, playing some really great tennis. I'm not going to use this as an excuse, but my leg obviously was not the best. It's obviously disappointing."

Swiatek, by contrast, roared into her first Grand Slam final with the loss of just 23 games, the fewest since Mary Pierce finished runner-up in Paris in 1994. Facing down surprise quarter and semifinalists Martina Trevisan and Nadia Podoroska, the Polish teenager scored her most impressive wins in the first week, stunning 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova in the first round and avenging last year's French Open defeat to top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep in the fourth.

"Everybody is stressed when they're playing Grand Slam finals. I just knew that Sofia may also be stressed, that she's not a machine," Swiatek said. "I was aware that we can both struggle, and we're probably not going to play our best tennis because it's hard with so much pressure.

"But I just did everything I've done in the previous rounds. I focused on technique and tactics. I tried to get rid of expectations, just play one ball after another. I didn't really care if I'm going to lose or win. I think the main key was just keeping my expectations low."

They played just once before at this very tournament - albeit on the junior level - with Swiatek knocking out the American en route to the quarterfinals of the 2016 girl's singles tournament, and was equally impressive in the first three games of Saturday's final, winning 12 of the first 15 points.

Struggling with the Chatrier shadows and Swiatek's relentless weight of shot, Kenin nonetheless got on the board and soon began imposing her own depth as she evened the set at three games apiece.

Swiatek, who reached the doubles semifinals with Nicole Melichar, battled through a pair of long games to break Kenin after nearly 10 minutes - outrallying the American on her third break point opportunity - to find herself serving for the first set.

From set point down, Kenin reversed the deficit to earn break point and blasted a backhand return winner - one that sent Swiatek's racquet flying from her hand - to get back on serve.

Strong returning from Swiatek, the first Polish woman playing a Grand Slam final since Agnieszka Radwanska at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, followed and the Pole was ahead two more set points, making no mistake on her second opportunity as she played remarkable defense to seal a 50-minute first set.

"I just feel like I kind of made history. But I still think that Radwanska, she achieved a lot because she played on the top level of WTA for, I don't know, 12 years. I don't even know the number," she said of her illustrious countrywoman.

"I know there's going to be a lot of people who is going to compare us. But I think I have to be really consistent for the next couple years to everybody to name me like the best player in Poland because still I have a lot to do. Still I think that's kind of her place."

Exchanging breaks to open the second, Swiatek, who was cheered on from afar by good friend and US Open champion Naomi Osaka, kept pressing even as Kenin left the court for a medical timeout, winning a fifth straight game behind a barrage of winners.


"It was so crazy for me, winning against Simona that I already thought about the tournament as my lifetime achievement. Really, I had no expectations.

"I knew it's going to be tough in the final. I didn't want to stress a lot about it, so I just told myself that I don't care and I tried to believe in that."

Championship point arrived after a service winner and Swiatek completed a nerveless performance with one last forehand winner.

"I think at the end I really just enjoyed the moment. It's not that I don't care if I'm going to win or lose, I'm just not thinking about it all the time. I'm focusing on the things I do right now because winning is just an effect of my work that I'm doing every minute."

Swiatek ended the match with an astounding 25 winners, making just 17 unforced errors while converting six of nine break point opportunities. Winning over 60% of all points played on return, she allowed Kenin just 10 points in the second set.

"It's inspiring," she said of this new wave of young Grand Slam champions that includes Kenin, Osaka, and Bianca Andreescu. "I know that there are no limits. Even though you're really young and you're an underdog, you can do a lot in a sport like tennis.

"Well, on one hand it's pretty inspiring. Sometimes I caught myself visualizing that I'm also winning a Grand Slam. But on the other hand it was also really far away. Right now when I'm here and I'm a Grand Slam champion, it's crazy.

"You believe in things, but in the back of your head you know that there's going to be a huge amount of work that you have to do to win that. Then after two weeks of great playing, you already have it. It's just - I don't know - overwhelming.

"I think I'm going to need some more time to comment on that because I need some perspective, some distance."

wtatennis.com

 I am still in shock and awe over the whole thing to be honest. It is one thing to win your first Grand Slam so young, but to do it so convincingly without losing a set is something else. 

After years of waiting, Poland finally has a Grand Slam Champion!. 

Congratulations Iga on your outstanding mental toughness, poise and court craft. You are the pride of Poland.  

It was an absolute pleasure to watch you for 2 weeks. I can't wait to see, what you'll show us in 2021. 

Bring on the Aussie Open. 

Iga Swiatek reaches Roland Garros final, first Polish player in the Open Era!

PARIS, France – Iga Swiatek will be the first Polish woman to play in the final of Roland Garros during the Open Eta after dismantling qualifier Nadia Podoroska, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals.

The 19-year-old WTA World No.53, who is also into the doubles semifinals along with Nicole Melichar, had lost just 20 games in her five matches prior to her final-four clash and maintained her smooth sailing in Paris by winning in 70 minutes.

While Podoroska, who was bidding to become the first qualifier ever to make it into the final of a major, as well as just the second Argentine lady, won the first couple of points of the match, her early confidence was soon evaporated by the power and precision of her rival.

In total, Swiatek broke on five occasions, while she hit 23 winners in the type of commanding performance that has become her custom over the past fortnight.

“I’m kind of surprised! I never thought before the tournament I would play so well. But I always knew that if I was going to make a final of a Grand Slam, it would be the French Open,” she admitted.

“This is what I planned to move. I wanted to play this match as if it was a first round. I didn’t want to think about being in the semifinal because it would stress me. I just kept being aggressive, like in the previous matches. I’m feeling lucky that I’m feeling good and nothing hurts.”

The early signs were that it would be a more competitive match. Podoroska played the opening two points with authority and forced deuce as Swiatek served in the opening game.

The early signs were that it would be a more competitive match. Podoroska played the opening two points with authority and forced deuce as Swiatek served in the opening game.

Swiatek has specialized in success on her opponents’ serves for the duration of her time in Paris, and that was maintained at the outset of this encounter. Having broken Martina Trevisan in six of eight occasions in the quarters, she started the semi by breaking to 15.

Some impressive hustling from Podoroska allowed her to stay in touch with two holds, but the 23-year-old missed her sole break point of the frame by going wide and would never get a serious look at the Swiatek serve again.

Indeed, Swiatek increased her domination from that point, holding to love then sealing the set in 36 minutes at the third opportunity as her opponent fired into the net.

The momentum continued into the second as Swiatek showed her game is about more than hard hitting as she athletically chased down a drop en route to the opening game.

A matter of minutes later, the screw was turned as the teenager boasted a 4-0 advantage, drilling a forehand to break in the first instance then executing a superb lob on the way to a second.

Podoroska did succeed in breathing some life into the match with a determined break to stop the run of six games against her only to lose her own serve for a fourth successive time.

Swiatek confidently served out the match and only Sofia Kenin or Petra Kvitova will stand in the way of her becoming Poland’s first major winner in Saturday’s final.

“Petra has been a superstar has been a superstar for many years and Sofia has been on fire this year. But I don’t want to think about it right now, I’m just happy I’m in the final,” she said.

wtatennis.com

I have been keeping an eye on this young lady since last year,  and continue to be really impressed with the way she's playing. 

She had some great results on the hard courts last year. But clay is clearly the surface she shines on.

I was beyond impressed with the way she beat Simona Halep in straight sets only losing 3 games. After such a big win like that most players often have a let down and lose in the very next match. 

But not Iga Swiatek she has kept this momentum up and has not lost a set, or more then 4 games in each to reach the final

That is outstanding for someone so young. 

I'm astonished with her poise, and her on court craft as well as her power which has surprised many at this tournament. 

What a dazzling display of dominance to reach your first ever Grand Slam final. 

The first Polish woman to reach a Roland Garros final in the open era (the only other one being in 1939). 

A historic moment for Poland in the sport.

She's playing like someone who belongs on the big stage. And that's fantastic to see. 

There's a lot of darkness going on around the world this year with the pandemic, but the sport of tennis has been the one bright spot I will happily cling to and cherish. 

Being a Polish woman myself, it's not often I get to feel Polish pride when it comes to my favourite sport, and after Agnieszka Radwanska retired I wasn't sue I would ever again get the chance to do so.  

I'm so happy to be wrong.

Well done Iga!. 

I believe you can take it all the way. Poland is cheering for you. ♥♥

Lindt Home of Chocolate THE GRAND OPENING with Roger Federer

Roger Federer may not be in action on the court this year, but he’s definitely keeping busy.

The Swiss great recently participated in the grand opening of a new chocolate museum in Kilchberg, Switzerland.

The Lindt Home of Chocolate will offer visitors an interactive history of chocolate, a research center, along with the opportunity to see a nine-meter high chocolate fountain that contains 1.4 tons of chocolate.

Federer, who is a brand ambassador for Lindt said, “The Lindt Home of Chocolate is a unique chocolate experience and I look forward to coming here with my kids.”

The 20-time major champion is not competing this season as he continues to recover from knee surgery. Federer is hopeful though that he can start training soon for next year.

Federer told German daily Tages-Anzeiger that he wants to have two training sessions a day starting next week. His goal is to be fully ready for the 2021 Australian Open.


Though he admits he is getting closer to retirement, he wants to give himself more chances to fully compete on the tour.

“It would have been easy to retire now,” Federer said about not competing since January, “but I want to continue to offer myself the chance to take advantage of tennis.”

tennisnow.com

Roland Garros releases details on Covid safety measures for this year's tournament

Now that the health and safety protocol for the 2020 Roland-Garros tournament has been unveiled, Jean-François Vilotte, Director General of the FFT, gives us an outline of what to expect.

The 2020 edition of the Roland-Garros tournament, which begins on 21 September, will certainly be unusual. Firstly, due to the time of year: the Parisian Grand Slam is being played in the autumn, for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Secondly, due to the transformation of Philippe-Chatrier court, which now boasts a retractable roof. And lastly, due to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires an extremely strict health and safety protocol to be rolled out for everyone involved in the event.

For rolandgarros.com, Jean-François Vilotte, Director General of the French Tennis Federation, explains the reasoning behind the measures and gives specific details about how they will be implemented.

Can you give us an outline of the health and safety protocol to be implemented at Roland-Garros?

The aim of this health and safety protocol is to act responsibly by protecting everyone who, for whatever reason, is present inside the stadium during the 2020 edition of the tournament, while organising this outstanding international tennis event. The primary protective measure is to enable everyone to respect social distancing guidelines and hygiene precautions: first of all, the health and safety protocol states that everyone must wear a face covering, that the flow of people will be managed so that social distancing guidelines can be respected and, for the same reason, it ensures that enough space will be left between spectators when seated. Similarly, a whole series of passive protective measures will be rolled out inside the stadium, such as hand sanitiser dispensers. But, in addition to these measures, we have devised a way of physically partitioning the stadium so that visitors can avoid close interaction with other people.


Was partitioning the stadium the best solution for welcoming visitors in the best possible conditions this year?

The partitions put in place will be restrictive, but they are there for obvious reasons so the spectators will understand. The way Roland-Garros Stadium is set out and managed will, of course, be quite different to previous editions. But we are lucky to have a 12-hectare stadium that spans 1 kilometre from east to west, and various competition sites: Simonne-Mathieu court to the east, then Philippe-Chatrier court, Suzanne-Lenglen court and, to the west, the outside courts. This unique layout means that Roland-Garros stadium is not like any other traditional sporting facility. This distinctive feature will allow us to organise the tournament in the best possible way, to ensure that the competition runs smoothly – which is non-negotiable – while ensuring the safety of the various populations.

These populations include the people who organise the tournament in every sense. What provisions have been made for them?

In terms of the people who are regularly present inside the stadium, in particular the people who are involved in organising the different aspects of the tournament, we have set up a testing policy that will determine whether or not their accreditation will be issued. And for accredited persons present at the stadium over a longer period, these tests will be repeated at various intervals throughout the tournament’s duration.

We imagine that the protocol will also be extremely strict for the players and their entourage…

Yes of course. We will pay particular attention to the athletes and their entourage who, by definition, will be in greater proximity to one another. So, again, following the example we have seen elsewhere and which we ourselves have put in place when organising other, less prestigious tournaments [Ed.: such as the Challenge Elite FFT], we will implement strict hygiene conditions for the athletes and their entourage in order to monitor and detect any traces of COVID-19 contamination. This health and safety protocol is extremely strict and very responsible. We would never have considered holding the tournament if we were not convinced, along with the public authorities, that this health and safety protocol fulfils all of the current health and hygiene guidelines.

The decision to hold Roland-Garros in this unprecedented context was not taken lightly, we see…

The FFT has a responsibility to protect the health of anyone involved in the tournament: it has a responsibility to international tennis to organise this major tournament and it also has a responsibility to society. What we want people to see is that it is possible to enjoy sport, socialise and interact with other people while respecting strict health and hygiene guidelines. We want our tournament to be truly remarkable and to set an example, from all angles. By setting an example with our tournament, we hope to prove that we can get the economy back on track, though it goes without saying that certain conditions and certain restrictions must be respected.


What do you mean by this?

As the organisers of this sporting event – which is, along with the Tour de France, the most important regular international sporting event to be held in France – we have a responsibility in terms of employment, economic activity, the reputation of the City of Paris and the Greater Paris region, and, more generally, the events-based economy. From this point of view, the 2020 tournament is not just a sporting event, it is also proof that, even in the current climate, we have the human resources and the expertise, in the field of sporting events, to organise an event of this scale while doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of all people involved.

Discover here all the details of the health and safety protocol.

rolandgarros.com

Sorry, but I'm still not convinced. At least with the U.S. Open there were no people. 

Which seems logical and easier to control, having all these people even in these different sections seems kind of reckless. 

But that's partially my own anxiety talking.

I wish them all the luck in the world, but I wonder how many of the top players will actually show up. Besides Djoker who of course will because he was denied in the U.S. 

Other than him and Stan, I don't know how many top ten guys will be there. Biggest question of course will be whether Nadal will be there to defend his title. 

And I'm honestly curious how many of the women will show up as well. 

Novak Djokovic disqualified from U.S. Open 4th round for hitting lines person in the throat with a tennis ball

Well, now we know the answer to the most discussed tennis question in 2020. Who can beat Novak Djokovic, who entered today’s fourth round U.S. Open match, 26-0 on the year?


The answer: Novak Djokovic.

An absolutely stunning unforced error, Djokovic was defaulted this afternoon late in the first set of his match against Spain's Pablo Carreño Busta. While Djokovic’s anger was self-directed, he fired off ball that struck a lineswoman in the throat. In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, this “negligent disregard” triggers an automatic default. In legal terms, this is a strict liability crime.

Djokovic left the grounds without speaking to the media, but this may mark a massive pivot point—not just of this unusual tournament but of tennis history. With 17 career major singles titles, Djokovic trails Rafael Nadal (19) and Roger Federer (20), the lead criteria in tennis’ GOAT debate. As the only member of the Big Three to attend this event — he took the court today as the only male player in the draw to have ever won a major — he was the odds-on favorite to win in New York and narrow the gap.

Not only will that not happen, but one wonders about the long-term impact of this gaffe. In an extraordinarily harshly worded statement, the USTA noted that Djokovic will lose all of his ranking points and prize money from this tournament, and will likely be fined additionally. How Djokovic will handle the splashback from this catastrophe will be a prominent theme going forward.

As for the tournament itself, it, too, was jolted. For the first time in four years, a player outside the Big Three will walk away with the title. Austria’s Dominic Thiem is the highest remaining seed and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who reached the final last year, is still in the draw as well. And let’s devote a few lines to Carreño Busta, the opponent today. While Djokovic authored his own demise, the Spaniard’s play was a contributing factor, causing, as it did, such frustration and agitation. Rightly stunned, as so many others were, Carreño Busta said afterwards, “I never expected this moment.”

Neither did the tournament. Part of what makes this incident still more remarkable: the context. This “closed open,” the first tennis major staged post-COVID, featured no fans and a bubble-type of atmosphere. Officials planned for hundreds of scenarios and eventualities and controversies. The top seed defaulted mid-match for hitting a line judge with a ball was not among them.

The popular discussion topic before this tournament: would the title come adorned with an asterisk, given the absence of fans and a moth-eaten field. The view here was that it would possibly be quite the opposite: the players who won the event would not have a diluted title, but one freighted with extra meaning, able, as they were to compartmentalize the chaos and persevere. It is beyond shocking that the world’s number one player in the world wasn’t up to that. And took himself out of contention.


si.com

2020 continues it's track record of bizzare events. Of all the opponents I thought would knock Djokovic out of the tournaments, I never could have figured it would be himself.

He has made a statement on his Instagram and Twitter, where he apologizes several times but that's something that should have been done right off the bat not 2 hours later. So damage is done there. It's a bit of karma for Djokovic really. 

He handled the pandemic thing with the Adria Tour atrociously and he's been getting away with these out bursts recently so it was bound to catch up to him eventually. Hopefully he'll learn and grow from it. 

But I'll be honest it's not going to make me dislike him less. He may get more titles than Roger and Rafa in the end. 

But he'll never be in the same league in terms of class, and he'll never have the same respect in that regard.