The Australian Open began on Monday with the very notable absence of Roger Federer – who has not missed the tournament since his debut in 2000.
Sports fans have flocked to Melbourne Park with officials expecting up to 400,000 people to attend the event adhering to social distancing precautions – about half the amount of people compared to last year.
Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, announced just after Christmas he would be pulling out due to a knee injury, however, organisers have now revealed the 39-year-old’s wife Mirka was actually behind his decision not to play.
Tennis legend Roger Federer (pictured) is absent from this year’s Australian Open not having missed the tournament since his debut in 2000
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Tennis legend Roger Federer (pictured) is absent from this year’s Australian Open not having missed the tournament since his debut in 2000
Organisers revealed his wife Mirka (pictured) was behind the 39-year-old’s decision not to play in this year’s tournament
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Organisers revealed his wife Mirka (pictured) was behind the 39-year-old’s decision not to play in this year’s tournament
Novak Djokovic at a press conference on day one of the Australian Open 2021 in Melbourne (pictured) will have a slightly easier path to the finals without Federer
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Novak Djokovic at a press conference on day one of the Australian Open 2021 in Melbourne (pictured) will have a slightly easier path to the finals without Federer
Sports fans gathered at Melbourne Park as the 2021 Australian Open goes into day two on Tuesday (pictured)
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Sports fans gathered at Melbourne Park as the 2021 Australian Open goes into day two on Tuesday (pictured)
Tennis Australia’s head of player liaisons Andre Sa, a former Brazilian tennis pro, said this week Melbourne’s hotel quarantine was a factor in the Swiss master not boarding a flight.
His own stint in quarantine was not the issue, however, but rather the impact on his wife and their four children.
‘The problem is that Mirka and their children couldn’t leave the room. They would have to stay 14 days in the room. The exception is only for players. He could go out, train and come back, but the family couldn’t. Mirka did not approve the idea,’ Sa said.
United States’ Sofia Kenin holds a mask to her face during her match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at a tuneup event ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia on Friday
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United States’ Sofia Kenin holds a mask to her face during her match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at a tuneup event ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia on Friday
Mirka Federer, wife of Roger Federer with their children nine-year-old twin girls Charlene and Myla and five-year-old boys Lenny and Leo during presentations after Roger Federer of Switzerland loss against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men’s Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 14, 2019
Mirka Federer, wife of Roger Federer with their children nine-year-old twin girls Charlene and Myla and five-year-old boys Lenny and Leo during presentations after Roger Federer of Switzerland loss against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men’s Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 14, 2019
The other option for Federer would have been to travel to Melbourne alone which he also found unacceptable.
‘There would be at least five weeks away from family. He said, ‘Dude, I’m 39, I have four kids, 20 Grand Slams, I am no longer willing to spend five weeks away from my family,’ Sa explained.
Federer, considered by many one of the greatest sportspeople of all-time, will make his return to the court in a tour tournament in mid-March at the ATP Qatar Open in Doha.
