Roger Federer pulls out of the Olympic Games in Tokyo as a knee injury prevents him the chance to win his first singles gold for Switzerland with the 39-year-old starting his rehab
- Roger Federer has been forced to withdraw from the Olympics due to injury
- The tennis legend suffered a setback with a long-term knee issue he has had
- Federer announced the news on his Twitter page saying he was ‘disappointed’
- He recently lost in straight sets in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon this month
Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics because of a setback with his knee problem.
The 39-year-old, who has already had two knee operations, lost to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
Federer, runner-up to Andy Murray in the gold medal match at London 2012, said on Twitter: ‘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.
Roger Federer has had to pull out of the Tokyo Olympics as he begins rehab on a knee injury
Federer has previously had two surgeries on his knee and the issue has come back
‘I am greatly disappointed, as it has been an honour and highlight of my career each time I have represented Switzerland.
‘I have already begun rehabilitation in the hopes of returning to the tour later this summer.
‘I wish the entire Swiss team the best of luck and I will be rooting hard from afar.’
The closest Federer has come to gold in the men’s singles was silver in London 2012
It prevents Federer the chance of attempting to win his first singles gold medal for Switzerland at the Olympics.
The tennis legend won gold in the men’s doubles in Beijing 2008, but the closest he got in the singles was a defeat to Murray at London 2012.
A knee issue also prevented him the chance of competing at the last Olympics in Rio, after he then took the season off after Wimbledon to recover from a knee injury.
Federer was the flag bearer for Switzerland at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.