Roger Federer finally played his first match in Qatar Open after one year, the former 20-time Grand Slam champion has come back from injury to take on Dan Evans in Doha.

Roger underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, he was warmed welcomed by the 20 percent of spectators at Doha’s Khalifa Tennis Complex.

The 39-year-old hasn’t played a match since a semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020.

“I know it’s on the rare side for a 40-year-old to come back after a year out,” he said at a media briefing in the Qatari capital Doha Sunday.

“I feel there is still something retirement was never really on the cards.”

Earlier, after the initial operation, Federer had originally planned to return for the now-canceled grass-court season this month. His last tournament match was on January 30 in the Australian Open semi-final, where he lost to eventual champion Djokovic.

In April, Federer said he was “devastated” when Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II.

He has got off lightly with injuries during a career in which he has won 103 singles titles, including all four majors.