It was a distressing Friday for the Swiss tennis ace, Roger Federer on the Spanish terre-battue. He received two match points the second set tiebreaker, but the World Number five, Dominic Thiem’s incessant tennis denied Federer to play Novak Djokovic in the last four round at the Mutua Madrid Open 2019. The Austrian won 3-6 7-6 (13-11) 6-4 against the Swiss maestro in the Madrid quarterfinals. 

Yesterday after his loss, Roger Federer was indecisive about his participation at the Rome Masters 2019. However, today the Swiss World Number three has announced to make his presence at Italian Open 2019.

“Hello everybody, I just finished speaking to the team,” he said. “And, happy to say I’m coming back to Rome to play in Italy and can’t wait, so exciting, it’s been too long. I’ll see you there. Caio tutti. Bye Bye.”

Roger Federer has been the finalist four-times at the Italian Open. In 2006, Rafael Nadal won over Federer in an exhilarating 6–7(0-7), 7–6(7-5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7-5) final match on the Roman sludge. Previously, Roger Federer played finals in 2015 and he lost of Novak Djokovic.

Roger Federer last featured at the Rome Masters in 2016. He was seeded third back then and his surrendered to Dominic Thiem in the pre-quarterfinals in straight sets. Including yesterday’s loss of the Swiss, Federer has won just two matches against the new era contender, Thiem in their past seven meetings. Also, Roger Federer has never won against the Austrian on clay.

The draws of the tournament were simultaneously released while Federer was battling against Thiem in Madrid yesterday. In the Italian Open 2019, he is expected to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarters and then followed by his longtime rival and the eight-time champion in Italy, Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. And before those matches, he will open against the victor of Frances Tiafoe and Joao Sousa in the Italian Open.