Roger Federer has withdrawn from the French Open due to discomfort in his knee after Saturday’s grueling fourth-round victory over Dominik Koepfer.
Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, admitted after his three-hour victory that he was unsure if he would be fit to face Matteo Berrettini for a place in the quarter-finals.
A statement on Sunday confirmed he had chosen to withdraw, having always made clear his priority is to be in full health for Wimbledon this summer.
The 39-year-old had played just three matches in the 16 months prior to Roland Garros and had always preached caution over his expectations coming into the clay court season, insisting his aim was just to regain match fitness.
Nevertheless, Federer defeated Denis Istomin and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic before an error-strewn performance against Koepfer highlighted the lengths he still has to recover.
Rafael Nadal, who has won the last four French Opens in succession, will surpass Federer’s grand slam tally if he is successful once again this week in Paris.
He had earlier said that he was pondering whether to participate in the second week of the claycourt Grand Slam as his season goal was Wimbledon, starting on June 28.
“We go through these matches… we analyse them highly and look at what’s next and we’ll do the same tonight and tomorrow,” he said.
