Roger Federer Announces French Open Absence After Knee Surgery
With a sigh and a heavy heart, tennis star Roger Federer shared via his Twitter that he's been grappling with discomfort in his right knee for some time now.
The 38-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland on Wednesday, a decision that, unfortunately, rules him out of Paris, France's second Grand Slam of the season.
Federer will also skip a few major tournaments leading up to the French Open but should be back in form for the grass court season later this year.
"My right knee has been bothering me for a while now. I had hoped it would fade away, but following examinations and discussions with my team, I decided on undergoing arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday", Federer stated.
"The surgeons confirmed that it was the right decision and are optimistic about a full recovery. Consequently, I will have to miss Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami, and the French Open. I am truly grateful for everyone's support during this tough time.", he added.
"I can't wait to get back on the court as soon as possible. See you all on the grass!", Federer expressed his excitement for returning to the game he loves so much.
In his final Grand Slam match at the Australian Open in January, Federer exhibited noticeable signs of injury during his Viertelfinale against Tennys Sandgren. The match resulted in a severe injury, and during his Halbfinalniederlage in two sets against eventual winner Novak Djokovic, external medical attention was required.
The 20-time Grand Slam Champion, who clinched his sole French Open title in 2009, has missed the Paris event intermittently since 2016. After returning last year to reach the semifinals, he squandered two match points in the Wimbledon Final against Djokovic.
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Despite his recovery, Federer is set to forgo several tennis events, including Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami, and the French Open due to his surgery. While Federer's absence from the latter tournament is a disappointment for many fans, the 20-time Grand Slam champion remains optimistic about his return to the grass court season later in the year.
