Roger Federer set to play Madrid for the first time in four years!
Back in December, the world no. 7 Roger Federer had confirmed he should play on clay in 2019 (read more about that HERE), staying away from the ATP tournaments on the slowest surface since Rome 2016! Earlier this month, Roger announced he would skip Monte Carlo since it comes too soon after Miami, choosing the Mutua Madrid Open as one of his stops before Roland Garros. Roger has not played in Madrid since 2015 and that epic clash against Nick Kyrgios when he wasted two match points in a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 loss (check the report HERE), standing as the first champion of this event since it switched the surface and moved to Caja Magica in 2009 (he won it on an indoor hard court in 2006 as well).
Three years later, Roger went all the way again in Madrid, this time on that controversial blue clay that couldn't survive that first edition as the majority of players were against it, including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. In 2010 and 2011, Nadal defeated Federer twice in Madrid and the Swiss had a short campaign at Caja Magica in 2013 and 2015, losing to Kei Nishikori and Nick Kyrgios. After staying away from clay in 2017 and 2018, Roger will compete in a few events before Roland Garros where he hasn't played since 2015 and that quarter-final loss to Stan Wawrinka. Roger has played just one tournament so far in 2019, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round of the Australian Open (recall the match HERE) and he will make a return in Dubai next week.
“Federer is one of the best players of all time, it’s no secret,” said Feliciano Lopez, the Director of the Mutua Madrid Open. “We are happy because his return to Madrid is a gift to the tournament, but above all the fans will be able to see a unique player in the Caja Mágica. Having the Swiss player back on clay with Djokovic and Nadal is going to be unmissable”.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2twrzWO
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