French Open Withdrawal Forcing Fans to Reconcile with Tennis After Roger Federer

Roger Federer’s withdrawal from the 2016 French Open serves as a preview of the inevitable. One day he will retire. This is just a dress rehearsal. 

The real deal promises to be far more depressing and much more formal than a Facebook post. 

In a statement released via his Facebook page, Federer told his fans, “I have been making steady progress, but I am still not 100 percent…I feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready. This decision was not easy to make, but I took it to ensure I could play the remainder of the season and help to extend the rest of my career.”

The last time @rogerfederer did not play a Major (1999 US Open), average gallon of gas was $1.23 and “Genie in a Bottle” was No. 1 song.

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) May 19, 2016 His withdrawal ends his streak of 65 consecutive Grand Slam appearances. It also reminds his fans that his career is coming to an end. No, it’s not ending next week. It might not even end next year. But the end is near. 

Yeah, they know this. It doesn’t mean his fans are ready to accept it. But the signs are increasing in frequency and severity. So is the dread. 

When Federer announced in February that he would undergo knee surgery: groan. Then he withdrew from Indian Wells and Madrid. Ugh. 

Now this. Federer missing a Slam? Oh no! 

He’s bounced back from injury before. However, as BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller noted, the former world No. 1 is getting older and issues are mounting.  

It has been a phenomenally frustrating year for Federer, who has …

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