Roger Federer trains in Dubai before Melbourne trip

The 20-time Major champion Roger Federer arrived in his usual winter residence in Dubai, working hard on his game and getting ready for the first Major of the season in Melbourne.

Struggling with a knee injury, Federer played only one tournament in 2020, experiencing the shortest season of his career and undergoing two surgeries in February and May. Roger decided to skip the rest of the season after the second surgery, setting eyes on 2021 season and hitting the practice court again in October. Roger and his family had arrived in Dubai a couple of days ago, together with his coach Ivan Ljubicic.

Roger and Ivan will work on the practice court in the upcoming weeks, hoping to get at 100% and get the green light ahead of the first Major of the season that starts in Melbourne on February 8. The Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley is confident that Roger will be in the draw alongside other world's leading players, hoping for a good tournament for both the players and the crowd.

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"Every player from the entry list should travel to Melbourne and play the Australian Open. It's the start of the season, and anything can happen with that entry list, but the commitment is there. Every player, including Roger Federer, has committed to play at Melbourne Park. He said to us that February 8 was a more suitable date for preparing for the Australian Open. Still, a lot will depend on how he responds to his surgery in the next two to three weeks," Craig Tiley said.