Roger Federer withdraws from French Open

The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who hurt his back during practice for the Madrid Open earlier in May, said taking part would be an “unnecessary risk”.

Federer returned to feature at the Rome Masters last week, but bowed out to Dominic Thiem in the third round.

He was spotted training on the clay courts this week, fuelling hope he would challenge for a second Roland Garros title, but his announcement on Thursday means he will miss a Grand Slam for the first time this century.

"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," he wrote on his Facebook page.

He only returned from a two-month layoff after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in April – a knee complaint picked up running a bath for his twin daughters.

He reached the quarter-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters in his first event back, where he was beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, before withdrawing from Madrid and suffering an early exit in Rome.

It’s the correct decision. Why risk aggravating an injury, especially when he’s not in shape to win the French Open? Better to rest up and prepare for Wimbledon (his best chance of ending the hunt for an elusive 18th Grand Slam) or the Olympics (where he is still chasing a first gold medal).