Roger Federer’s decision to skip the Australian Open was due to issues concerning the quarantine process and not his health despite previously saying so, according to a tournament official.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of the event last month after saying that he wouldn’t be ready in time to play in Melbourne due to his ongoing recovery from injury. The Swiss maestro hasn’t played a match in almost a year after undergoing two surgical procedures on his right knee. Speaking to reporters in December, Federer said he faced a ‘race against time’ to be ready for Australia before deciding not to go after speaking with his team.
“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,” agent Tony Godsick told the AP.
However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion has now been contradicted by Andre Sa who claims he was told directly that the issue was related to personal circumstances. The Brazilian is the Head of Player Liaison for Tennis Australia.
During a recent interview with website Bandsports, Sa said Federer’s wife Mirka didn’t approve of the quarantine plan which required his family to stay inside the hotel room. Although the former world No.1 would be allowed himself to leave in order to train. Under government regulations, all players arriving in Australia are required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period before they are allowed to play any professional events. They will be staying at various hotels located in Melbourne.
“The main reason was the quarantine. I talked to him a month ago and he had two options. He could come with the whole family and quarantine him. The problem is that Mirka (Federer’s wife) and her children couldn’t leave the room. They would have to stay 14 days in the room. The exception is only for players. He could go out, train and come back, but the family couldn’t. Mirka did not approve the idea,” Sa told Bandsports.
Sa, who is a former top 20 player himself that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 Wimbledon Championships, says Federer wasn’t prepared to travel to the Grand Slam without his family.
“The other option would be for him to come alone,” he continued. “Only there would be at least five weeks away from family and children. And then he said, ‘Dude, 39, four kids, 20 Grand Slams. I am no longer in time to be away from my family for five weeks.”
The 39-year-old is yet to confirm when he will start his comeback this year. Despite his long absence Federer is still ranked fifth in the world.
The Australian Open will start on February 8th. It is the first time Federer will not be playing in the main draw since 1999.
