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Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts in his fourth round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during day seven of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Getty
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts in his fourth round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during day seven of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
His comeback at ATP Doha may not have met the soaring expectations of his fans, but Roger Federer would believe that he more than accomplished his objective in the tournament.
Coming into the event after a 14-month absence from tennis to recover from a second keen surgery that he underwent last year, the 20-time Grand Slam champion played down expectations around his return saying he was simply happy to be back in his similar environs.
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Video shows Roger Federer practicing with an emerging player in Dubai
While he marked his return with a three-set win in his tournament opener against Englishman Dan Evans, Federer went down in the next to hard-hitting Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Robertofabs IG
Roger and Fabbiano at practice #Dubai 💪 pic.twitter.com/Ud3ticKD4V
— Allez Roger (@kah22jad) March 18, 2021
Speaking post his exit, the champion said he was happy how his knees held up in match play and helped him come out unscathed in back-to-back three-setters.
While he withdrew from the subsequent Dubai Open, saying he needed more time in training to work on some minor chinks ahead of the grass-court swing, it now turns out that Federer is still in the city of Saudi, sweating it out in practice courts.
A video is out on Twitter showing the current World Number 6 knocking tennis balls with Roberto Fabbiano, an emerging tennis player.
The footage shows the 39-year-old Swiss casually getting into his trademark forehands and backhands.
Fabbiano even took to his Instagram page to share a picture of his smiling self with the champion.
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Roger Federer is eyeing a winning return to Wimbledon this year
Though Federer is preparing for the grass-court season, eyeing a winning return to Wimbledon, the lightning-quick hard courts of Dubai would present a good test for his knees and help him find his groove.
The Swiss underwent knee surgery after making a semi-final exit at last year’s Australian Open.
He later issued a statement saying he was taking an indefinite break from tennis to allow himself more time for rehabilitation and recovery.
After missing the bulk of tennis action last season, Federer withdrew from this year’s Australian Open citing inadequate fitness levels.
