PARIS: Roger Federer today (Sunday) withdrawn from the French Open one day after reaching the fourth round with a late-night win over Dominik Koepfer of Germany.
Federer, who is competing in his third tournament since undergoing two surgeries on his knee last year, finished his 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over Koepfer on Saturday night in a match lasting three hours and 35 minutes. He was due to face the ninth seed, Matteo Berrettini, who received a walkover into his first Roland Garros quarter-final.
In a statement, he said that he does not want to not push his body so soon into his return. “After discussions with my team, I’ve decided I will need to pull out of Roland Garros today,” the 39-year-old said.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 6, 2021
“After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it’s important that I listen to my body and make sure I don’t push myself too quickly on my road to recovery,” said Federer. “I am thrilled to have gotten three matches under my belt. There is no greater feeling than being back on court,” he added.
However, having undergone two knee surgeries in 2020, the Swiss star had admitted there were doubts over whether he’d make it. Federer is playing only his third tournament since last year’s Australian Open and has always said Wimbledon is his main goal.
He is chasing a ninth title at Wimbledon which starts on June 28. He is also scheduled to play the warm-up grass court tournament in Halle beginning on June 14, the day after the French Open ends.
