Roger Federer to miss rest of the season following further knee surgery
Roger Federer will miss the rest of the season – including two planned grand slams – after undergoing a second round of surgery on his right knee.
The record 20-time major champion confirmed on Wednesday he had suffered “a setback” in his recovery from a February operation he had hoped would ensure he was fit for Wimbledon.
Tennis’s biggest event was subsequently cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, with the French Open – which Federer had been poised to skip – provisionally moved to September and October.
That would mean it starting just a week after the US Open, although both grand slams remain in doubt due to Covid-19, while both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic last week expressed reservations about competing in New York.
The absence of his two biggest rivals would have given Federer, who turns 39 in August, a huge opportunity to keep ahead of them in the race to end up with the most men’s majors in history.
Nadal is just one victory behind Federer, while Djokovic’s Australian Open triumph in January took him to 17 grand slam wins.
Federer said in a statement: “A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional quick arthroscopic procedure on my right knee.
“Now, much like I did leading up to the 2017 season, I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 per cent ready to play at my highest level.
“I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season.”
Wimbledon was cancelled in April for the first time since the Second World War, with organisers deciding against staging it behind closed doors.
It had been due to be played between June 29 and July 12.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has threatened to snub playing at the US Open and instead focus on clay ahead of the rescheduled French Open.
He told Serbia’s state broadcaster RTS: “For me, currently, as things stand, most probably the season will continue on clay at the beginning of September.”
The world number one reiterated his opposition to “extreme” restrictions that could be in place in New York, including a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from outside the US, restricted access to courts, and limited ability to move around the city.
Defending US Open and French Open champion Nadal last week said he was not currently prepared to travel to play in New York.
The US Tennis Association could make a decision as early as next week about whether to hold the US Open at all.
