Eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is not playing at the tournament this year for the first time since 1999, but why?
The 40-year-old has been struggling with lingering injuries for an extended period now.
As such, the Swiss underwent knee surgery last year. Issues with his knee had long prevented Federer from performing at the peak of his powers, and in 2021 he decided something needed to be done.
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The 20-time Grand Slam champion is still hopeful of making a return to the court in the future though.
Federer was initially planning to return to tennis ahead of this year’s Wimbledon Championships, but suffered a setback in his recovery process.
Unfortunately, he likely won’t be seen playing tennis this season, with Federer also set to miss out on this year’s US Open as well. The Flushing Meadows event starts in late August.
Even before his injuries woes began to manifest themselves into anything particularly serious, evidence of Federer’s decline was visible.
He last won a grand slam at 2018’s Australian Open, and has since struggled to maintain his dominance at the top of his game amid Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s relentless success.
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At last year’s Wimbledon, the great bowed out at the quarter-final stage at the hands of 14th seed Hubert Hurkacz. The last set of the contest was notably miserable for Federer, with the Swiss failing to win a single game.
However, despite age beginning to have a detrimental effect on his abilities, Wimbledon fans will miss Roger Federer this year.
He is the competition’s most successful player ever, winning the title on a remarkable 8 occasions. Even when facing up to a Brit, he usually has the crowd’s backing.
A retirement is likely on the horizon for a man who many consider to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
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But tennis fans around the world Roger Federer can pull through his surgery recovery and return to the hallowed Wimbledon turf one more time at least before he hangs up his racket.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Roger Federer, Tennis, Wimbledon