In this Jan 30, 2020 photo, Switzerland's Roger Federer hits a return against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. (GREG WOOD / AFP)

SYDNEY - World No 5 and six-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer withdrew from Australian Open 2021, the tournament confirmed on Monday.

Roger Federer hasn't played a tournament match since the end of the Australian Open 2020, where he lost in straight sets to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals

"In the end Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigors of a Grand Slam and he's very disappointed he won't be coming to Melbourne in 2021." Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said in a statement.

Tony Godsick - Federer's long-time representative and CEO of their management company, TEAM8 - said he is working on putting together a 2021 tennis calendar for the 20-time grand slam champion, who plans to get back on tour soon after the year's first major tennis tournament.

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"Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open. He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness," Godsick told the Associate Press.

Tiley said the Australian Open has always held a special place in Federal's heart and wish him all the best as he prepares for his come.

The 39-year-old Swiss hasn't played a tournament match since the end of the Australian Open 2020, where he lost in straight sets to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.