Federer ‘pumped up’ to return to competition in Doha

FILE PHOTO: Tennis – Australian Open – Semi Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 30, 2020. Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts during his match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo

Former world number one Roger Federer said on Friday he was excited to return to competitive tennis at next week’s Qatar Open after a year-long absence.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not played a tournament since his Australian Open semifinal exit against Novak Djokovic last year, undergoing two knee surgeries since.

“Here we are, about to take off to fly to Doha. It’s been a year since my last event,” Federer, 39, said in a video posted on his Twitter feed.

“I can tell I’m very excited… it’s been a long and hard road. I know I’m not at the finish line yet but it’s good, I feel I’m in a good place, I’ve been practicing very well and I just feel really pumped up.”

The Doha Open starts on Monday.

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