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DOHA, QATAR – MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR – MARCH 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his match against Dan Evans of Great Britain on Day 3 of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on March 10, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
Roger Federer will miss this year’s Wimbledon, making it the first time that he will be missing since making his professional debut. The 40-year-old is the most successful player in the tournament’s history, winning 8 Championships in his career.
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However, Federer is primed to make his return to the Tour later this year with the Laver Cup in September. His last appearance came in the quarter-finals in 2021, losing to Pole Hubert Hurkacz.
Fans pay tribute to Federer at Wimbledon
Ahead of the start of this year’s tournament on Monday, fans were active on social media regarding Federer’s unfortunate absence. Fan messages like “No Roger, No Party.” and “We miss you Roger” were seen at Wimbledon on Day 1.
Wimbledon without Roger is sad 😥
We Miss you Roger ❤️ #Federer #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/BBh9plMjhb— danielle (@dm_mauron) June 26, 2022
Federer has been rehabilitating after undergoing a double knee surgery last summer. Since then, he has fallen out of the Top 50 in the ATP rankings.
Miss you @rogerfederer 😔
🎥 @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vYgJn69g7J
— Allez Roger (@fedrermoment) June 26, 2022
However, at the age of 40, this could be well be the beginning of the end for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
the rain about wimbledon: pic.twitter.com/WqsewRvW0B
— 🧟♂️ (@rogerdiIferer) June 27, 2022
The Laver Cup will be held in London this year, a place far too familiar for the former World No.1.
John McEnroe praises Roger Federer
The American tennis legend was full of praise ahead of the opening day of this year’s Wimbledon. He said, “Roger Federer is a living legend. We all know that.”
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Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 1, 2021 Switzerland’s Roger Federer shakes hands with France’s Richard Gasquet after winning their second round match REUTERS/Paul Childs
“He’s the epitome of what you would want your kids to be when they grew up. And he’s the most beautiful player I’ve ever watched play. I idolized Laver. He’s kind of an updated Laver to me.”
Federer won his last Wimbledon in 2017, his eighth at the All-England Club beating Marin Cilic in the final. Since then, he reached the final in 2019 after beating Rafael Nadal in the semis. However, he came up short against Novak Djokovic in the summit clash.
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Federer’s last Grand Slam win came at the 2018 Australian Open, where he beat Marin Cilic in a repeat of the previous year’s Wimbledon final.
Written by
Edited by
Tony Thomas