405 days. It’s been 405 days since Roger Federer has stepped on the court for a professional match. Today, at 39 years old and coming off two knee surgeries, the Swiss Maestro has made his return at the Qatar Open in Doha with a win over Englishman Dan Evans in 3 sets (7–6, 6–3,7–5)
After a 13 plus month lay-off, facing the 28th ranked player in the world who already has a title under his belt in 2021 in no easy return to the court. Evans is playing some of his best tennis and really took it to Fed all match, which makes Feds win that much more impressive. This was not a comeback vs. an unknown ranked in the triple digits. This was a win vs. a top 30 player in the world.
Credit to Dan Evans. Coming into this match everyone but Dan Evans mother was rooting for Fed, and I can’t even fully attest to that. That is a tough match to come into mentally. Probably admires Fed, knows the crowd is going to heavily against him, and if he wins is kind of the villain. But he gave Fed everything he had, and tried his best to play spoiler.
The first set tie break was a crucial win for Fed. The nerves had to be at an all time high. Fed fought off a breakpoint at 4–4 and a set point as well so this set was tight throughout. Dropping a tie break is never fun. Dropping a tie break in your first set back after over a year would have been tough. More from a mental standpoint than anything. Fed knew he would have to find his legs, but losing the first set after battling like that would have been a tough pill to swallow.
Evans took command of the second set early and never really looked back. Fed struggled to find his groove at the nets and couldn’t execute a drop shot. Evans knew he missed a huge opportunity in the first set and bounced back nicely. You couldn’t expect Fed to be perfect, and after winning an emotionally charged first set, it was not surprising to see Evans make a move in the second.
The two traded holds through 5–5 in the third, and the Fed became Fed. Another hold to get to 6–5 and dug in to get his first break of the match to secure his first win in over a year with a 7–5 third set win.
It was absolutely amazing to have Fed back out there. There is an amazing wave of young talent ready to take the reigns, but there will never be anything like watching Roger Federer on the tennis court. I was on the absolute edge of my seat at noon on a wednesday for the second round of the Qatar Open. That’s what Fed does. That is what he brings to the game of tennis. He is must watch TV from here until his final match, which I hope is one where he hoists a grand slam trophy. The GOAT is back and I am so damn excited.
