Federer to miss rest of season, including Olympics
Roger Federer is sitting out the rest of this season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the US Open, in order to protect his surgically repaired left knee.
Federer wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday that he needs “more extensive rehabilitation following my knee surgery earlier this year.”
“The doctors advised that if I want to play on the ATP World Tour injury-free for another few years, as I intend to do, I must give both my kneeandbodythepropertime to fully recover,” said the Swiss superstar.
The owner of a record 17 Grand Slams titles turns 35 on Aug 8, so the reference to “another few years” might give his fans increased hope of seeing Federer continue to wield a racket for some time.
His agent, Tony Godsick, wrote in an email to Associated Press that Federer’s plan is to “be ready for the start of next year.”
Federer is the first member of the sport’s so-called “Big 4” — a group that also includes No 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, 14-time major champion Rafael Nadal and 2012 gold medalist Andy Murray — to pull out of the Rio Games, where the tennis competition starts on Aug 6, a day after the opening ceremony.
Federer has often mentioned how much the Olympics means to him, in part because he met his wife, Mirka, when both competed at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Federer won a silver medal in singles for Switzerland four years ago in London, and teamed up with Stan Wawrinka to win the gold in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games.
In Brazil, Federer was expected to play singles, doubles with Wawrinka and mixed doubles with Martina Hingis.
He is the second big draw who will be missing from the Rio tournament: Five-time major champion Maria Sharapova of Russia won’t be there because she is serving a twoyear doping ban.
The arthroscopic procedure Federer had on his knee in February, repairing torn cartilage, was the first operation of his lengthy and accomplished career.
Federer said he was injured when he slippped while preparing a bath for his twin daughters.
He’s also had back issues this season, missed the French Open to end his record 65-appearance streak at major tournaments, and did not win a titleofanysortin2016—making it the first year since 2000 that he will finish without at least one trophy.
After participating in every single Grand Slam tournament from the 2000 Australian Open through the 2016 Australian Open, Federer will be sitting out two of the last three this year. He is a fivetime champion at the US Open and was the runner-up to Djokovic last year.
Federer, who has spent more weeks at No 1 than anyplayer in the history of the ATP computerized rankings, currently sits at No 3, having gone 21-7 this season.
Depending on how other players fare, his ranking will tumble over the next five months.
He hasn’t played since losing to Canada’s Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semifinals three weeks ago. Federer fell awkwardly during that match, winding up face-down on the Centre Court grass, and had a trainer come out to check on his left knee afterward.
He said at the time he wasn’t sure how badly he might have been injured.
InhisstatementonTuesday, Federer wrote: “The silver lining is that this experience has made me realize how lucky I have been throughout my career with very few injuries.
“I am as motivated as ever, and plan to put all my energy towards coming back strong, healthy and in shape to play attacking tennis in 2017.”