Roger Federer, the 2009 champion, is out of the French Open due to the back injury that has plagued a large part of his 2016 season.
The Swiss star, who was set to be the 3rd seed in Paris, misses a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 1999 US Open, where he failed to qualify.
News announced on social media
Federer announced his withdrawal via a post on Facebook, where he stated that his fitness had been improving, but that he was not 100 percent and that it might be an “unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready.”
Whilst the news of Federer’s withdrawal will be a disappointment for his many fans and for the tournament directors at Roland Garros (Federer always attracts large crowds in Paris), his withdrawal is not too much of a surprise.
The former world number one has struggled with injury throughout this season, and just two weeks ago withdrew from the Mutua Madrid Open with the same injury that his seen him withdraw here. Furthermore, Federer expressed doubts about his participation at the French Open following a straight sets loss to Dominic Thiem at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, saying he would not play if he was not fit enough to do so.
Remarkably, this will be the first time that he has not played at a Grand Slam tournament this millennium and the first time since 1998 that he hasn’t played at the French Open. He has failed to make the quarterfinals only once since 2005 and lost in the last eight to friend and fellow countryman Stan Wawrinka last year.
Implications in Paris
Federer’s withdrawal, less than 24 hours before the draw is set to take place, has had some major implications for the seedings in Paris.
The biggest change is that Rafael Nadal, one of the favorites for the title, has moved up to become the 4th seed. The nine-time champion will now avoid top seed Novak Djokovic or 2nd seed Andy Murray until the semifinals, assuming they reach that stage of the tournament.
Furthermore, Milos Raonic moves up to become the 8th seed, meaning he’ll avoid the likes of Djokovic and Murray until the quarterfinals, whilst David Goffin moves up to become the 12th seed, meaning he will not be drawn to face the top four seeds in the 4th round.
John Isner becomes the 16th seed, meaning he will not be drawn to face a higher seed until the 4th round, whilst 24th seed Jack Sock will no longer be drawn to face one of the top eight seeds in the third round.
Also, Federico Delbonis, a strong clay court player, now becomes the 32nd and final seed for the tournament. The Argentine will now no longer face the risk of playing a seed in the first round of the tournament.