Roger Federer will end his two-year clay court hiatus at the Mutua Madrid Open before he takes on Roland-Garros.
The Madrid Open - which will take place in the Caja Mágica from 3 to 12 May - is the fourth Masters 1000 event of the 2019 season, and on Wednesday confirmed it will feature the 20-time Grand Slam champion, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic also set to play.
Federer has won the Madrid Open three times - his first in 2006 was played on indoor hardcourt, before he won on clay in 2009 and 2012.
The last time Federer graced the Madrid Open - in 2015 - he lost to Aussie ace Nick Kyrgios in a marathon three-setter.
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Long-time rival Nadal has won the tournament a record five times, while Djokovic and Andy Murray are both two-time winners.
Germany's Alexander Zverev won the 2018 event, beating eventual Roland-Garros finalist Dominic Thiem.
Tournament director and former player Feliciano López was excited to see the Swiss master return to Caja Mágica.
"Federer is one of the best players of all time, it’s no secret," López said.
"We are happy because his return to Madrid is a gift to the tournament, but above all the fans will be able to see a unique player in the Caja Mágica.
"Having the Swiss player back on clay with Djokovic and Nadal is going to be unmissable."
¡@rogerfederer will participate in the #MMOPEN! 👑🇨🇭❤️ ¡Welcome back, Rog! 🤜🏻🤛🏻 See you in May! 🙌🏻😎https://t.co/iYRJRG4kOh pic.twitter.com/gfdZpKbZhB
— Mutua Madrid Open (@MutuaMadridOpen) February 20, 2019
"Roger’s presence in the Caja Mágica will make this year’s Mutua Madrid Open special," honorary tournament president Manolo Santana added.
"It doesn’t matter that he’s 37 because he still has that unmistakable class, the innate talent that has made him one of the best of all time.
"Being able to enjoy his tennis is something that no fan of the sport should miss."
After he was sensationally knocked out of the Australian Open by Stefanos Tsitsipas, Federer announced he will make a French Open comeback in 2019.
Federer has not played in Paris for four years - he missed the 2016 event due to injury, and opted to skip the clay court season in each of the last two years.
