Former world number one, Roger Federer, has announced he would not be a part of this year’s French Open.
He made this known after a successful knee surgery on Wednesday. The surgery was for the right knee that has been bothering him for sometime now and he had hoped he would find relief later on. But after an examination result, he had to opt for surgery. The doctors confirmed that having the surgery when he did was the best decision.
Federer has been missing in action when it comes to the French Open these past few years as this would be the fourth time he would not be playing at the event in the last five years. Federer, who finished in the top four at the recent Australian Open, having been knocked out by Novak Djokovic, has only won the French Open once, that was 2 decades ago, in 2009. In 2019, he made it to the semi-finals, after a hiatus since 2015.
But the French Open, which starts on the 24th of May, would not be the only thing the Swiss Legend would miss out of as he is taking the time off till June. This means he would not play in Dubai and also in Indian Wells, Bogota, and Miami.
The good thing, however, is that he would have recovered just in time for Wimbledon, starting on June 29, where he hopes to add another title having won the event eight times. If he wins in Wimbledon, it would take the total of his Grand Slams to 21. Recovering on time would also let him prepare fully for the Tokyo Olympics.
Federer’s absence from the French Open has some implications. He currently holds the title for the most Grand Slam by any man, with 20, topping Rafael Nadal with just one, after the Spaniard won his 19th at last year’s US Open. Nadal has always been a favourite at the event, as he was the one who beat Federer at last year’s semi-finals and won the event, for the third year in a row, winning it for the 12th time.
With Federer out of the event, Nadal’s competition would be less, with only Djokovic and Dominic Thiem to worry about. If he wins the event, he would be tied at 20 Grand slams with Federer. If Djokovic wins, then he would be his 18th Grand slam, putting him one less behind Nadal. But it seems obvious that whatever happens, the Wimbledon Open in June would be a real decider on who tops the Big 3.
Written by: Leon Osamor
