Federer Intends To Compete On Clay In 2019

Roger Federer announced that he will play on clay in 2019 after losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday evening.

The Swiss’ last match on the surface came at the 2016 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Federer did not compete on clay in 2017-18 to give his body a break ahead of the grass season. According to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone, the 37-year-old ranks third among active players (behind Nadal and Djokovic) in winning percentage on clay at 75.9 per cent.

“I’m at a moment where I think it would be nice to do it,” said Federer, in French. “I can say I have missed it, I did the right thing skipping it last year, the year before as well, and the year before that I was injured. So I felt I wanted to do it again.”

The 2009 Roland Garros champion and four-time finalist may have surprised some with his decision. But for the Swiss, his rationale is simple, and it has to do with his love for the sport.

“I’m in a phase where I want to have fun,” he said.