May 19, 2016 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Sidney Beal III
Thirty-four-year-old Roger Federer was forced to withdraw from next week’s French Open, citing an injured back which will prevent him from taking part in the event.
"I have been making steady progress, but I am still not 100 percent," said Federer. "I feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready. This decision was not easy to make, but I took it to ensure I could play the remainder of the season and help to extend the rest of my career."
His withdrawal marks the first Grand Slam he will miss this century.
His current back injury is just the latest in a list of ailments that have hampered Federer so far in 2016. He has played in only four events to date, after dealing with the flu and minor knee surgery after injuring himself at home.
Federer’s withdrawal propels Rafael Nadal to the spot of the fourth seed, where he can no longer face Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray as early as the quarterfinals.
Federer plans to return to the court in time for Wimbledon, where he has seven titles to his name.
