Why Federer skipped the China Open throughout his entire career

Roger Federer never once competed at the China Open, despite being one of the dominant forces of the ATP Tour for close to two decades, according to Tennis365.

The Beijing event has opened the Asian swing since 1993 and its roll of honour includes Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Michael Chang and Andy Murray, Tennis365 reports.

Federer's absence cannot be put down to a preference for the rival Japan Open either. He played that tournament just once, winning the title in Tokyo in 2006.

Speaking to Tennis World USA, the China Open tournament director gave the explanation, quoted by Tennis365: "I am confident the problem with Roger is not any lack of interest on his part in coming to Beijing".

The director, named Ross, pointed instead to a packed post-US Open calendar that only grew busier once the Laver Cup was launched. "It's his schedule. Post-US Open for him is a very full one, especially beginning last year with the creation of Laver Cup," Ross said, according to Tennis365.

Ross added that Federer would then move on to the Rolex event in Shanghai and tournaments in Europe before the ATP Finals, saying the China Open organisers would "always inquire with his management, but it's typically a formality."

"We respect his schedule, and we wish him well," Ross continued. "This is the reality of Roger Federer in that part of the year."

Federer's absence left the door open for Djokovic, who won the China Open six times between 2009 and 2015 and never lost a match there, Tennis365 notes.

Federer did appear elsewhere in China during his career, lifting the Shanghai Masters title twice, in 2014 and 2017.

The China Open nonetheless stands as one of the sport's biggest tournaments to go unwon by Federer, albeit by his own scheduling choice rather than lack of success on court.

The two Masters 1000 titles that eluded him entirely were the Italian Open and the Monte Carlo Masters, the only Masters events absent from his trophy collection despite reaching four finals at each, Tennis365 reports.

Three of his four Monte Carlo final defeats came against Nadal, with the other arriving against fellow Swiss player Stan Wawrinka in what proved to be his last appearance in that final, in 2014.

His four Italian Open final losses were spread across opponents Félix Mantilla, Nadal twice, and Djokovic, according to Tennis365.