Roger Federer won’t play in the 2021 U.S. Open, and it’s not the only tournament the tennis star is going to miss. Knee surgery will keep Federer away from the ATP Tour for several months, at minimum.

Federer broke the news on Instagram Sunday, explaining that he would need a third knee surgery after hurting himself further during the grass-court season. The 40-year-old missed 13 months of action from February 2020 to March of this year with a pair of surgeries on his injured right knee, which will require another operation.

“Unfortunately, they told me for the medium to long term, to feel better, I will need surgery, so I decided to do it,” Federer said of his conversations with doctors. “I will be on crutches for many weeks and then also out of the game for many months.”

Federer last competed in July with a trip to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. The 20-time Grand Slam champion skipped the Tokyo Olympics because of a setback with his knee.

Federer had hoped to play on the ATP Tour later this summer. With another surgery scheduled, Federer admits that competing again professionally, at all, will now be a challenge.

“I wanna give myself a glimmer of hope also to return to the tour, in some shape or form,” Federer said. “I am realistic. Don’t get me wrong. I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it.”

Eighteen years after winning his first Grand Slam, Federer is still a top-10 player in the world. He reached the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open shortly before undergoing his first knee surgery. Federer made it to the Wimbledon final two years ago.

The 2018 Australian Open was Federer’s last Grand Slam championship.

Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are all tied with the most Grand Slam titles in history.

The end? Roger Federer leaves the court after losing to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz
Roger Federer leaves the court after losing to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz. AFP / Glyn KIRK
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