- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
SWISS tennis legend Roger Federer on Tuesday (13) pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics starting later this month. In a statement, he said that he has suffered a setback with his knee due to which he has withdrawn from the mega event. Federer, who will turn 40 next month, also expressed his disappointment over the move.
“During the grass court season, I unfortunately experienced a setback with my knee, and have accepted that I must withdraw from the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Federer wrote in the statement. “I am greatly disappointed, as it has been an honor and highlight of my career each time I have represented Switzerland,” he added.
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“I have already begun rehabilitation in the hopes of returning to the tour later this summer,” the maestro with 103 career titles added in his statement.
“I wish the entire Swiss team the best of luck and I will be rooting hard from afar,” he said.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has had knee injuries for a while now. Last year, he had undergone two knee injuries.
He also pulled out of the French Open this year in order to improve his fitness for his favourite tournament Wimbledon which he has won eight times. But Federer’s run at the All England Club looked unimpressive this season and his run ended at the quarter-finals where he was defeated by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
Federer won silver in the men’s singles event at the 2012 London Olympics and gold in the doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games.
He had also missed the 2016 Games at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, because of the knee injury.
