Federer announces decision to pull out of Tokyo Olympics
World number 9 sets Hard court return target
Men’s tennis world number 9 and twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has announced his decision to pull out from representing his native Switzerland at the Tokyo Olympics billed to hold kickstart in July.
The 39-year-old Swiss has decided not to participate in the Olympics due to his recent knee injury history. Federer underwent two knee surgeries in 2020 and only began his 2021 season with the French Open, which he eventually pulled out of after his third round win, due to injury. He was defeated by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets at Wimbledon, causing him to announce that he was unsure of whether he would ever appear at the All England Club again in his career.
Federer has never won a gold medal in the singles’ event at the Olympics, coming closest in the 2012 London Olympics where he picked up a silver medal after losing to Andy Murray. His only Olympic gold medal came in 2008 in Beijing as half of a Swiss doubles team, with Stanislas Wawrinka, his partner. He stated that his target was to return to action in time for the year’s hard court season in the U.S Open.
