20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will not play again this season after announcing plans to undergo a third knee operation.
The former world No.1 made the surprise announcement on Sunday evening via a video he uploaded to his Instagram account. After consulting with doctors, Federer confirmed that he ‘hurt himself’ further by playing during the grass swing where he reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. This season he had been on the comeback from injury after missing more than a year of the Tour due to a knee problem that required two surgical procedures last year. The second operation was conducted after the first failed to produce the desired results.
“Unfortunately they (the doctors) told me for the medium to long-term to feel better I will need surgery. So I’ve decided to do it. I will be on crutches for many weeks and also out of the game for many months,” Federer said on Sunday evening.
The announcement comes less than a week after the Swiss maestro celebrated his 40th birthday and raises fears about if he will be able to return to the Tour fully fit before he retires from tennis altogether.
“I know it’s the right thing to do because I want to be healthy. I want to be running around again. I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the Tour in some shape or form,” he continues. “I am realistic. I know how difficult it is at this age to do another surgery.”
It is unclear as to what the exact procedure Federer will be undergoing or the estimated duration of the recovery process. Although he describes it as a ‘long period of time.’ Suggesting that he will not be playing again this season and it is far too early to speculate if he will be able to make it to the Australian Open in January.
Federer, who has spent 310 weeks as world No.1 during his career, has vowed to approach his upcoming rehab through the mindset of an ‘active player.’ Insinuating that he isn’t done playing just let and intends to come back to the Tour should his knee allows him to do so.
Although unfortunately for the tennis star his future in the sport is uncertain.
