Federer to miss US Open and more after third knee surgery

Roger Federer will not be in Flushing Meadows come the end of the month after having yet another surgery on his injured right knee. The Swiss legend legend is expected to be out a lengthy spell, but a full recovery will give him “a glimmer of hope” of returning to the sport he’s dominated for the last two decades.

Federer's third surgery in a year and a half

The 40 year posted a video on Instagram letting the world know he would be having surgery, and is expected to be “out of the game for many months.”

"I've been doing a lot of checks with the doctors, as well, on my knee, getting all the information as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon,'' Federer said. "Unfortunately they told me for the medium- to long-term, to feel better, I will need surgery, so I decided to do it. I will be on crutches for many weeks and then also out of the game for many months.''

Return to Roland Garros was short lived

This will be Federer’s third surgery on a knee that kept him out for more than a year after the opening grand slam of 2020. After a second surgery in June of that year left him sidelined until he returned to the court this May but withdrew from the French Open after three victories. The last time we saw Fed was in Wimbledon when Hubert Hurkacz knocked out the future Hall of Fame in quarterfinals.

Roger, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic are all tied for most Grand Slam titles in the history of the sport. The last major title the Basel native won came in the 2018 Australian Open, when he outlasted Marin Cilic in an epic five setter.

"I want to be healthy. I want to be running around later, as well, again, and I want to 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.''

The US Open is in serious jeopardy of taking place with out the top three players, maybe in the history of the sport. Federer joins Nadal on the withdraw list, as the Spaniard is still recovering from a foot injury. Meanwhile Djokovic is still looking to get back to playing shape after exhausting himself during Tokyo 2020. He is expected to play, but has skipped the lead up tournaments preceding the US Open.

The Netherland’s Talon Griekspoor will fill the spot left by Federer’s absence according to the U.S. Tennis Association. American Machie McDonald will be the next one to step in if there is another withdraw in the weeks to come.