Roger Federer (Photo : Getty Images)
Roger Federer has insisted he would not be a pushover at the Monte Carlo Masters despite being sidelined for more than two months after recovering from a knee surgery.
Federer has never been in a competitive match ever since his semifinal loss against career rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open earlier this year. However, the Swiss Maestro is in no shortage of any confidence heading into his next tournament at the ATP 1000 Masters Monte Carlo, where the 24-year-old officially starts his European clay-court season campaign.
"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," Federer said, reports ESPN. "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."
Federer was supposed to have his post-knee surgery recuperation debut at the recently-concluded Miami open in Key Biscayne, Florida.
However, the 17-time Grand Slam event winner was forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a stomach virus, putting fans in anticipation of Federer's first tennis action after being sidelined for a lengthy period.
The third-seeded Federer has not won the Monte Carlo Masters after finishing runner up four times from 2006-2008 and 2014. Last year, Federer failed to reach the final round of the tournament after getting defeated by Frenchman Gael Monfils in straight sets.
Federer could either open the tournament against the winner between Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci and Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The Swiss could face top seed Djokovic in the semifinal round if Federer gets past his potential opponents, which include eighth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Meanwhile, Djokovic could start his bid for a back-to-back Monte Carlo Masters title against Czech Jiri Vesely or Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili, who will slug it out in Round 64 of the tournament.
