The Swiss maestro is the latest big name to withdraw from the Olympics. Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios and Simona Halep were the others to pull out of the Summer Games.
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Roger Federer announced on Tuesday that he is pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics due to a setback with his knee. The Swiss legend made the announcement on social media, saying that he plans to return to the ATP Tour on a later date this year following rehabilitation work. The 39-year-old had two knee operations during 2020 and has since struggled to get back into full fitness. The 20-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of Roland Garros in the early stages as he wanted to improve his condition ahead of Wimbledon. But the Swiss maestro never looked at his peak at the All England Club before getting knocked out in the quarterfinals by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
“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. “I am greatly disappointed, as it has been an honor 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.”
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 13, 2021
Federer has won a couple of medals in the past Olympics, having bagged the silver medal in the men’s singles event at the 2012 London Olympics and clinched the gold in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games. He is the latest big name to withdraw from the Olympics. Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Nick Kyrgios, and Simona Halep were the others to pull out of the Summer Games, which is set to begin on July 23.
Earlier, Spanish legend Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon and also the Tokyo Games in order to extend his time in the sport. “Hi all, I have decided not to participate at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It’s never an easy decision to take but after listening to my body and discuss it with my team I understand that it is the right decision,” Nadal Tweeted.
“The goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy, that is to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at the maximum level of competition. The fact that there has only been 2 weeks between RG and Wimbledon, didn’t make it easier on my body to recuperate after the always demanding clay court season. They have been two months of great effort and the decision I take is focused looking at the mid and long term.”
Nadal has participated in three Olympic Games, appearing at Athens 2004 before winning singles gold at Beijing 2008 and doubles gold at Rio 2016. “Sport prevention of any kind of excess in my body is a very important factor at this stage of my career in order to try to keep fighting for the highest level of competition and titles,” he added.
“I want to send a special message to my fans around the world, to those in the United Kingdom and Japan in particular. The Olympic Games always meant a lot and they were always a priority as a Sports person, I found the spirit that every sports person in the world wants to live. I personally had the chance to live three of them and had the honour to be the flag bearer for my country.”
