Roger Federer opens in Madrid in 2019
Swiss Roger Federer will open at the Mutua Madrid Open in 2019. Thus, the 20-time Grand Slam winner will make his announced clay court comeback at the latest in the Spanish capital.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 20, 2019, 02:46 pm
After his knockout loss at the Australian Open to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open, Federer had announced that he would attack ashes again in 2019. In the past two seasons, the Swiss Confederation was not seen on the clay courts of the world in favor of the grass season.
"I felt like I wanted to do it again. I'm in a phase when I want to have fun," Federer said in Melbourne. Nevertheless: Federer's clay court comeback should not degenerate into a pure joke event. If the draw is good, he also has the confidence to win his second French Open title after that in 2009, according to the world ranking seventh.
The ATP 1000 event in Madrid (May 5th-12th) will serve the maestro in preparation for the major tournament in which Federer last competed in 2015. Due to the high altitude, the Mutua Madrid Open accommodates the father of four, as proven by the tournament victories from 2006 (hard court), 2009 and 2012. Only Rafael Nadal could triumph in the Spanish capital more often.
Courting for Federer
"We are very happy because his return to Madrid is a gift for the fans. That the Swiss will be on sand alongside Djokovic and Nadal is something not to be missed," said tournament director Feliciano Lopez of the comeback of the 37-year-old.
So far it is unclear whether Federer will play any other clay court tournaments before the French Open. A start in Monte Carlo is probably "too early" for Federer, the tournament organizers in Rome, on the other hand, have legitimate hopes of a promise from the long-standing world number one. The ATP 250 tournament in Estoril also hopes that the Swiss will participate.