The 2021 Australian Open will have the absence of one of the great figures of the men's circuit: the Swiss Roger Federer. Two weeks ago his agent, Tony Godsick, confirmed in statements to the Associated Press that Federer would not play the Australian Open. Everything pointed to Federer did not want to risk his knee after the two operations he underwent in 2020. However in the last hours the real reasons that made Federer resign from the first Grand Slam of the season have been revealed.
Andre Sá, director of relations with the Australian Open players, explained in statements collected by Ace BandSports why Federer will not go to Melbourne. “The main reason Federer has not come to the Australian Open has been quarantine. I spoke to him a month ago and he had two options: he could come with his whole family and pass the quarantine. The problem is that Mirka Vavrinec (his wife) and their children could not leave the room. They should be locked up there for 14 days. The exception is for players only. They can go out to train and come back, but family members cannot. And Mirka did not approve of this idea. “
Faced with the impossibility of traveling with his family, who accompany him in the main tournaments of the circuit, the other option for Federer was to fly to Australia alone, as explained by Sá. “The other option was that Federer would have come alone. He would be alone for at least five weeks away from his family and his children. And then he would say: 'Dude, 39 years old, four children, 20 Grand Slam. It is not time for me to be away. from my family for five weeks. “