Roger Federer is in serious doubt for the US Open after withdrawing from two lead-up events because of lingering injury concerns.
Federer’s withdrawal from upcoming hard-court tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati were announced on Thursday, with officials citing lingering issues with his surgically repaired knee.
The news follows the 20-time grand slam champion’s shock decision to skip the Tokyo Olympics after he said he “experienced a setback” with his knee at Wimbledon.
Federer, who turns 40 on Sunday, has not competed since losing in the quarter-finals to Hubert Hurkacz at the All England Club.
The Swiss champion was humbled in straight sets, losing the last set 6-0 to mark his first-ever ‘bagel’ at the grass-court grand slam.
Play begins in Toronto on Monday and at Cincinnati on August 16.
The hard-court events traditionally serve as the two primary tune-ups ahead of the US Open, the year’s last grand slam that’s scheduled to begin in New York on August 30.
Federer is a seven-time champion in Cincinnati and has won two titles in Canada.
But his withdrawal from both has cast serious doubts over his participation at the US Open, leaving fans shattered.
