ROGER FEDERER IS SIDELINED BY SURGERY AS DEL POTRO ANNOUNCES HIS RETURN TO TENNIS

Written by: Resendiz on 3rd February 2016

ROGER FEDERER IS SIDELINED BY SURGERY AS DEL POTRO ANNOUNCES HIS RETURN TO TENNIS |

In news that surprised the entire tennis world, Roger Federer underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus. The 34-year-old Swiss will miss all of February, forcing him to withdraw from tournaments in Rotterdam and Dubai.

According to a statement on his official website, ”Roger Federer underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery today in Switzerland to repair a torn meniscus.”

Reports suggest the injury occurred last Friday, one day after the 17-time major champion lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals. It is unclear which knee is injured.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning against David Goffin of Belgium in the fourth round of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 24 January 2016. EPA/JULIAN SMITH

Federer posted the following on his Facebook page:

“I want to inform you that yesterday I underwent arthroscopic surgery on my knee. I injured my knee the day after the semi-finals in Australia. After getting tests done when I returned home, it was determined that I had torn my meniscus. I apologize to my friends in Rotterdam and Dubai, as I was very much looking forward to playing those events. While this is an unfortunate setback, I am encouraged and grateful that my doctor said the procedure was a success. I am looking forward to attacking the rehabilitation process this afternoon with my team and working hard to get back out on tour as soon as possible. Thanks for all your incredible support. I will check in with all of you soon.”

Federer’s next possible tournament will be BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in early March.

In a more positive development, Juan Martin Del Potro will be making a long-awaited return to the tour just as Federer is temporarily exiting. Del Potro announced on Monday that he will play the Delray Beach Open, beginning in two weeks.

Plagued by a left-wrist injury, Del Potro missed the last nine months of 2014 before briefly coming back to play Sydney and Miami in 2015. He has not contested a match since round one of last year’s Miami Open, where he lost to Vasek Pospisil.

The 2009 U.S. Open champion peaked at No. 4 in the world before being undone by physical problems. He wrote, “Hi! I wanted to share this happy news with you!” on his social media pages, accompanied by a three-minute video confirming his comeback.