by A.P.
Six-time champion Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
The 39-year-old Swiss, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, has not played since January because of two operations.
He hoped to return at the delayed Australian Open, which starts on 8 February in Melbourne.
“Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigours of a Grand Slam,” said tournament director Craig Tiley.
Federer has played in the Australian Open 21 years in a row, but his agent said missing the tournament was “the best decision for him in the long run”.
Read MORE
var mpn_wi={userId:14353,siteId:105105,widgetId:106435,widgetType:0};if(void 0===mpn_ref)var mpn_ref=[mpn_wi];else mpn_ref.push(mpn_wi);var mpn_sid=document.getElementById('monadplugscript');if(!mpn_sid){var mpn_dt=new Date,mpn_ns=document.createElement('script');mpn_ns.id='monadplugscript',mpn_ns.type='text/javascript',mpn_ns.defer=!0,mpn_ns.src='//cdn.monadplug.com/format/native/js/hood.js?v='+mpn_dt.getYear()+mpn_dt.getMonth()+mpn_dt.getUTCDate()+mpn_dt.getUTCHours();var pmn_os=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];pmn_os.parentNode.insertBefore(mpn_ns,pmn_os)}
var mpn_wi={userId:14353,siteId:105105,widgetId:106435,widgetType:0};if(void 0===mpn_ref)var mpn_ref=[mpn_wi];else mpn_ref.push(mpn_wi);var mpn_sid=document.getElementById('monadplugscript');if(!mpn_sid){var mpn_dt=new Date,mpn_ns=document.createElement('script');mpn_ns.id='monadplugscript',mpn_ns.type='text/javascript',mpn_ns.defer=!0,mpn_ns.src='//cdn.monadplug.com/format/native/js/hood.js?v='+mpn_dt.getYear()+mpn_dt.getMonth()+mpn_dt.getUTCDate()+mpn_dt.getUTCHours();var pmn_os=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];pmn_os.parentNode.insertBefore(mpn_ns,pmn_os)}
var mpn_wi={userId:14353,siteId:105105,widgetId:106435,widgetType:0};if(void 0===mpn_ref)var mpn_ref=[mpn_wi];else mpn_ref.push(mpn_wi);var mpn_sid=document.getElementById('monadplugscript');if(!mpn_sid){var mpn_dt=new Date,mpn_ns=document.createElement('script');mpn_ns.id='monadplugscript',mpn_ns.type='text/javascript',mpn_ns.defer=!0,mpn_ns.src='//cdn.monadplug.com/format/native/js/hood.js?v='+mpn_dt.getYear()+mpn_dt.getMonth()+mpn_dt.getUTCDate()+mpn_dt.getUTCHours();var pmn_os=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];pmn_os.parentNode.insertBefore(mpn_ns,pmn_os)}