Federer sends out warning ahead of Monte Carlo Masters

Sport360 staff 05:17 11/04/2016
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  • Ready for return: Roger Federer.

    Roger Federer returns to the court next week following knee surgery and has warned the rest of the Monte Carlo Masters field he will no be pushover despite three months out injured.

    The 17-time grand slam champion has been sidelined since going under the knife to repair a torn meniscus he sustained shortly after he lost in the Australian Open semi-finals to Novak Djokovic.

    The 34-year-old Swiss then withdrew from a planned comeback in the Miami Open last month because of a stomach virus, but is finally set to be in action again in Monte Carlo, where he has been given a first round bye.

    Guillermo Garcia-Lopez or Thomaz Bellucci will be Federer’s first opponent in the second round and while the world number three admits it will provide a test for his knee, he is seeking more success in a tournament where he is a four-time beaten finalist.

    “I’ve played very well in Monaco in the past, but for now my objective is to make my return to play, gain a good feel and go from there,” he said at his pre-tournament press conference on Sunday.

    “My knee hasn’t bothered me, but the big test will be seeing how it reacts in match conditions.

    “There are no easy draws in a Masters 1000, so I am not underestimating anyone. At the same time, I hope no one is underestimating me just because I’ve been hurt.”

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