Six-times champion Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Australian Open as he still continues to work his way back to fitness from two knee operations earlier this year, his agent said. Swiss Player Roger Federer, 39, last played a competitive match at the season-opening Grand Slam in January before he had to undergo surgery on his knee. He later required a second operation to overcome the Knee problem. 

The start of the 2021 Australian Open has been delayed for three weeks until Feb. 8 due to the country’s strict border rules to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Earlier Roger Federer, who had been training at his off-season base in Dubai, had told organisers that the delayed start to the tournament could benefit him. Federer's agent Tony Godsick said Federer was not quite ready to return. Godsick said in a statement, “Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open". He added, “He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness. However, after consultation with his team, he decided that the best decision for him in the long run is to return to competitive tennis after the Australian Open.”

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said they were disappointed to unsee Federer for next year’s event. “In the end Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigours of a Grand Slam and he’s very disappointed he won’t be coming to Melbourne in 2021. We wish him all the best as he prepares for his comeback later in the year and look forward to seeing him in Melbourne in 2022", Tiley said in a statement. 
Federer has made 15 trips to the semi-finals and won the last of his six Melbourne titles in 2018. He made the semis earlier this year, losing to eventual winner Novak Djokovic.

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