After announcing his unexpected knee surgery earlier this month, Roger Federer has pulled out of the upcoming Indian Wells Masters to focus on more rehab. The Swiss, who tore his meniscus the day after the semifinals at the Australian Open, already withdrew from Rotterdam's ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships this month. Federer plans to make his return at the Monte Carlo Masters, which begins on the 9th of April.
Despite the surgery being a success, the 17- time Grand Slam champion has decided not to rush a return to the tour. It's a very wise move, as sufficient recovery time after injuries is absolutely crucial, especially with a long season ahead.
Announcement via Facebook
Federer announced his decision via his Facebook page today, after vowing to keep his fans updated on his progress;
'The Rehab for my knee is going really well! I have now had a lot of great practices on the court and in the gym. As it is a long year, I don't want to push it too hard and come back too soon. Thus, I will unfortunately not be able to make it back in time for the great event in Indian Wells but I do plan on playing in the desert next year. After consultation with my team, I have decided to enter the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Thanks for the support and I will see you back on tour soon.'
The injury is common amongst athletes and requires around a month of rehab, so it appears likely that the 34-year-old will compete in Monte Carlo. Federer is back on practice courts already, so with a little more time to recover with the help of his team, the Swiss should be just fine to return to the ATP World Tour soon.