Tennis player Roger Federer has announced his withdrawal from the French Open, just hours after defeating Germany's Dominik Koepfer in the tournament's third-round match.
"After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it's important that I listen to my body and make sure I don't push myself too quickly on my road to recovery", the 39-year-old sportsman said in a statement.
The organisers confirmed Federer's withdrawal, issuing a relevant statement on Twitter.
Following his Saturday's victory over Dominik Koepfer, Federer was due to hit the court on Monday to compete with Matteo Berrettini for a place in the quarter-finals.
However, the Swiss player expressed doubts whether he would continue playing in the Grand Slam tournament, voicing concerns about his health following Saturday's lengthy and arduous match.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner had to undergo two knee surgeries in 2020 and go through prolonged rehabilitation.
The Basel-born star has suffered from knee issues multiple times during his career, having undergone his first operation for a torn meniscus back in 2016.
