Sport
Roger Federer Will be Out for ‘Many Months’ Due to Third Knee Operation
Roger Federer will miss the US Open and will be out for “many months” due to the third operation on his right knee, which he claims will give him “a glimmer of hope” that he would be able to return to competition.
Via a video message on Instagram, Federer announced the news Sunday,
“I’ve been doing a lot of checks with the doctors, as well, on my knee, getting all the information, as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon,’’ Federer said. “Unfortunately, they told me for the medium to long term, to feel better, I will need surgery, so I decided to do it. I will be on crutches for many weeks and then also out of the game for many months.’’
Federer, 40, who shares the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, said there was a potential his playing career could be over, but he stated he would rehab the knee in the hopes of returning.
“I want to be healthy. I want to be running around later, as well, again, and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope, also, to return to the tour in some shape or form,” Federer said. “I am realistic, don’t get me wrong. I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it.”
Federer was sidelined for more than a year after undergoing knee surgery shortly after the 2020 Australian Open in February of that year. In June, he had a follow-up operation.
In late May, he returned to Grand Slam action at the French Open but withdrew after three victories. His most recent match was a loss at Wimbledon quarterfinal last month, and he cited the knee injury in withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics.
The US Open, which begins on August 30 in New York, is the season’s final Grand Slam tournament. Nadal has a foot injury, and Djokovic has withdrawn from tune-up tournaments, saying that he needs to rest and recover following the Olympics, where he failed to win a medal.
Between 2003 and 2010, Federer won 16 Grand Slam titles, and he remained at or near the top of the sport into his late 30s. During a resurgent 2017, he won the Australian Open and Wimbledon and defended his title at Melbourne Park in 2018, his most recent Grand Slam championship. In the Wimbledon final in 2019, he lost a five-set classic to Djokovic.
As per the report of ESPN, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands will take Federer’s place in the main draw of the US Open, according to the US Tennis Association. If there is another withdrawal, American Mackie McDonald would be the next guy to move into the field.
