LONDON (REUTERS) - Switzerland’s Roger Federer became the latest big name in tennis to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics after the 20-times Grand Slam champion said on Tuesday (July 13) that he had picked up a knee injury during the grasscourt season. Federer, who turns 40 next month, had two knee surgeries in 2020 which resulted in more than a year of rehabilitation, with the Swiss returning to action in March – 13 months after his Australian Open semi-final exit last year. He withdrew from the French Open last month despite winning his third round match to save himself for the grasscourt season, where he sought a record-extending ninth title at Wimbledon but was beaten in the quarter-final by 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 said on Twitter. “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.” Federer won the gold medal in the doubles at the 2008 Games in Beijing when he partnered with Stan Wawrinka while he had to settle for silver in the singles four years later in London when he was beaten by Briton Andy Murray on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. He was also Switzerland’s flag bearer at the 2004 and 2008 Games. Federer joins a list of big names to skip the July 23-Aug 8 Tokyo Games after Rafa Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu also decided not to compete. pic.twitter.com/ngIlD6MYew— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 13, 2021 Novak Djokovic, who has won the first three Grand Slams of the year, said he was “50-50” about competing in Tokyo following the organisers’ decision to ban fans from attending and the restrictions on the number of people he can take to the Games. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: 'My last Wimbledon? I don't know,' says Federer after crashing out Related Story Tennis: Federer crashes out at Wimbledon to cast doubt on future
LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer crashed out of Wimbledon in the quarter-finals at the hands of Poland's Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday (July 7), but insisted he will not be rushed into retirement even with his 40th birthday just five weeks away. Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam title winner, lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to a player 15 years his junior. It was only the eight-time Wimbledon champion's 14th defeat at the tournament in 119 matches and his first straight-sets loss since an opening round exit against Mario Ancic in 2002. It was also the first time he had lost a set 6-0 at Wimbledon and just the third time at a Slam. The other two occasions both came at the French Open - against Pat Rafter in 1999 and Rafael Nadal in 2008. "I don't know. I really don't know. I've got to regroup," said Federer when asked if his Wimbledon career was over. "With everything that comes after Wimbledon, we were always going to sit down and talk about it because clearly now Wimbledon is over. I got to take a few days. "Just see, Okay, what do I need to do to get in better shape so I can be more competitive." Those discussions will also centre on his participation in the Olympic Games in Tokyo which start in just over two weeks' time. Federer is now without a Slam since the 2018 Australian Open but he had two match points to beat Novak Djokovic in the epic 2019 Wimbledon final. "Clearly, there's still a lot of things missing in my game that maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago were very simple and very normal for me to do,' he added ruefully. Federer had only played eight matches this year before Wimbledon as he recovered from two knee surgeries in 2020. "Of course I would like to play it again, but at my age you're just never sure what's around the corner," added Federer. "I will take my time, not feel rushed by you guys or anybody else. I got to take my time, take the right decision, the one decision I want to take and where I feel most comfortable. "The team and me were actually very happy I made it as far as the quarters here. That's how it goes. I'll be fine. I have perspective about it, so it's all good." Roger Federer Quarter-Final Press Conference | Wimbledon 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Federer crashes out at Wimbledon to cast doubt on future Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, however, has his doubts Federer will play Wimbledon again. Had he won on Wednesday, Federer would have been the oldest man in over half a century to get to the last four. "I noticed the mis-hits, awkward looking points from Roger and obviously the last set of course, 6-0," said Becker. 'See him again?' "He would never ever say if there was a niggle, but I don't know if we will ever see the great man again here." World number 18 Hurkacz, 24, had never got beyond the third round of a Grand Slam before this Wimbledon. However, boosted by having defeated world number two Daniil Medvedev in five sets in the last 16, he was a break up on a sluggish-looking Federer in the sixth game of the opening set. The Swiss star carved out a break for 2-0 in the second set. He couldn't hang on and Hurkacz levelled in the seventh game from 1-4 down before dominating the tiebreak. Federer looked punch drunk and he was quickly down 0-2 in the third set before Hurkacz wrapped up the decider in just 29 minutes. Roger Federer Exits Centre Court After Hubert Hurkacz Defeat | Wimbledon 2021 Match Point Moment | Hubert Hurkacz Defeats Roger Federer | Wimbledon 2021 He is only the second Polish man to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon - Jerzy Janowicz being the other in 2013. Up next is a clash with Matteo Berrettini of Italy for a place in Sunday's final. "Roger was congratulating me and wishing good luck for the next matches," said Hurkacz. "Obviously, walking off the court realising that I won against Roger, I mean, just kind of a dream come true, especially here on grass in Wimbledon. "Felt so special with the crowd around as well." Hubert Hurkacz Quarter-Final Post-Match Interview | Wimbledon 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Djokovic into 10th Wimbledon semi-final after straight-sets win Related Story Tennis: Shapovalov into Wimbledon semis after outlasting Khachanov Hurkacz had only met Federer once before Wednesday - a straight sets loss at Indian Wells in the quarter-finals in 2019. His run to the semi-finals is impressive, however, as he had won just one match on tour between his surprise Miami Masters title in March and the start of Wimbledon. That dismal streak included defeat in the first round of the French Open to world number 154 Botic Van de Zandschulp and first-up losses in the grass court events at Stuttgart and Halle. The defeat in Stuttgart was particularly painful as it came at the hands of Dominic Stricker, ranked a lowly 335 at the time.