Here's why Roger Federer is set to skip Australian Open 2021

Roger Federer of Switzerland happens to be the GOAT of tennis, having won record 20 Grand Slam titles. He did not play the 2020 season following the Australian Open. Meanwhile, he is also set to miss out on the 2021 season-beginning Grand Slam, the AO.

First Published Dec 28, 2020, 12:10 PM IST

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Swiss great and tennis GOAT, Roger Federer is all set to miss out on the opening Grand Slam of next year, the Australian Open. He is reportedly still recovering from the knee surgery that he had undergone earlier this year.

According to his agent, Tony Godsick, Federer has taken the decision in consultation with his coaches Severin Luthi and Ivan Ljubicic, along with fitness coach, Pierre Paganini. The decision was taken, keeping in mind the long-term implications while eying a return to the circuit later, during 2021.

"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. 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 was quoted as saying to the Associated Press.

Since the AO this year, where he lost to world number one, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Federer has not played competitive tennis. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the right knee, while he is currently training in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Interestingly, Federer was initially named for the 2021 AO, before pulling out on Monday. Nonetheless, Godsick has confirmed that Federer his likely to be back by Wimbledon or the Tokyo Olympics.

"I hope there is still something to see from me next year. But, if that was it, that would have been an incredible ending for me at these Sports Awards," Federer had said on his future, as he was awarded the best Switzerland sportsperson in the past 75 years.