Roger Federer vs Daniel Evans - Federer makes a winning return in Qatar (Pictures)

By John Eastwood

10 Mar 2021

John Eastwood 10 Mar 2021

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Roger Federer beat Daniel Evans at the Qatar Open on Wednesday
The Swiss superstar won 7-6 3-6 7-5 in 2 hours and 24 minutes
Federer had not played in 405 days after undergoing knee surgery
The World No. 6 will take on Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-finals

Roger Federer beat Daniel Evans at the Qatar Open (Getty Images)

Roger Federer made a winning return to professional tennis at the ATP Qatar Open on Wednesday. The Swiss superstar beat Daniel Evans by 7-6 3-6 7-5 in Doha in his first match in 405 days.

Federer had not played since a semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic at the 2020 Australian Open.

The World No. 6 was on court for more than two hours and showed signs of his class and quality. Evans had been training with Federer in the build up to the tournament but fell just short.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion will take on Georgian World No. 42 Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-finals. Federer has played Basilashvili once, winning 6-2 6-1 6-2 at the 2016 Australian Open.

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Dan Evans of Great Britain celebrates a point in his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a forehand in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a backhand in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: A general view as Roger Federer of Switzerland plays his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Dan Evans of Great Britain returns a forehand in his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a forehand in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a backhand in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Dan Evans of Great Britain serves in his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland looks on in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland walks out to play in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland walks out to play in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: A general view as Roger Federer of Switzerland plays his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Dan Evans of Great Britain celebrates a point in his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a forehand in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a backhand in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: A general view as Roger Federer of Switzerland plays his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Dan Evans of Great Britain returns a forehand in his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Dan Evans of Great Britain serves in his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland looks on in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland walks out to play in his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

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