Roger Federer withdrew from the French Open on Thursday after failing to recover from a back injury, bringing to an end the 17-time major winner's run of 65 consecutive Grand Slams. "I regret to announce that I have made the decision not to play in this year's French Open," the 2009 Roland Garros champion wrote on his Facebook page.
"I have been making steady progress with my overall fitness, but I am still not 100% and feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready." The 34-year-old world number three, who has been plagued by knee and back injuries this year, last missed a Grand Slam event in 1999 when he skipped the US Open. Federer, with his 35th birthday looming in August, has played only four tournaments this year. A knee injury sidelined him after the Australian Open until Monte Carlo before a back problem ruled him out of Madrid. The Swiss then lasted just two matches at the Rome Masters where he was dumped out by Dominic Thiem.