Hard blow for the tennis ace. Roger Federer announced this Sunday, August 15, in a video published on Instagram, that he was going to have surgery on a knee, which will lead to “many months of absence” and leaves the hypothesis of an end of career.

Aged 40, the Swiss, who has not played since Wimbledon, notably missed the Olympic Games in Tokyo and is therefore forfeit for the US Open. “I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to get back on the circuit one way or another,” he explained. “I am realistic, understand me well. I know how hard it is at my age to have surgery again. I will try” to return to the circuit, Federer added. “I want to be healthy. I will follow the rehabilitation processes, ” he insisted.

The former world No. 1 played only 13 matches in 2021, for a mixed record of nine wins and four losses from five tournaments. His 2020 season, with six matches played, had been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and marked by two knee operations.

This new operation – he has already undergone two, in February and June 2020 – leaves doubt about the rest of his career. In the immediate future, after missing out on the Tokyo Olympics, he will be forfeited for the US Open, which starts on August 30.

The former world number one played only thirteen matches in 2021 over five tournaments (nine wins, four losses). His last appearance on court was in his Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Pole Hubert Hurkacz. Previously, the Basel native withdrew before the knockout stages at Roland Garros, in order to prepare for the London tournament, his favorite tournament that he has won eight times.

“I am realistic, understand me well. I know how hard it is at my age to have surgery again. I will try ” to return to the circuit, said the Swiss in his video. “I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to get back on the circuit one way or another.”

“I will follow the rehabilitation process, also with the aim of staying active, which will help me during this long period,” he said, before thanking his fans for their support, promising to keep them informed of the rest of the events and his rehabilitation.

In May, at the ATP tournament in Geneva, Roger Federer said of a possible retirement : “I have no specific plans. For now, this is not relevant “. “Actually, it’s the knee, the family and Mirka [his wife] that will decide. Today, the priority is to come back well and see what level I can reach. »