While Roger Federer has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his career, particularly in the later stages, there hasn’t been a known “secret injury” that nearly ended his career early. However, some real injuries that significantly impacted his career could be the basis for this kind of headline:
1. 2008 Back Injury: Federer struggled with back pain during the 2008 season, which led to some surprising losses, including the French Open final to Rafael Nadal and an unexpected defeat at Wimbledon that same year. Federer later revealed that this back injury had been bothering him for a while, causing a drop in form and nearly pushing him to take a break from tennis.
2. 2016 Knee Injury: In 2016, Federer suffered a major knee injury, tearing his meniscus, which required surgery and forced him to take an extended break from tennis for the first time in his career. This injury led many to speculate whether he would be able to return at the same level, as Federer was 34 at the time—an age where most tennis players start to decline. He ultimately made a stunning comeback in 2017, winning the Australian Open.
3. Recurring Back and Leg Issues: Throughout his later years, Federer dealt with recurring issues in his back and legs. Some of these injuries were kept relatively quiet until post-match press conferences or after tournaments, making them seem like minor nuisances, but they sometimes had significant effects on his play.
If Federer ever revealed that one of these injuries was more severe than the public knew, it could easily fuel a headline about a “secret injury” that almost derailed his career. His ability to play through pain and maintain his top performance for so long adds to the legend of his longevity and mental toughness in the sport.
Here’s more detail on Roger Federer’s injury struggles, and how they could have led to a headline about a “secret injury”:
1. 2004 – Back Problems:
Federer first began experiencing serious back problems as early as 2004, during his rise to dominance. The injury flared up sporadically throughout his career, affecting his movement and serve. In 2013, back pain caused an unexpected drop in form, leading to surprising defeats and an early exit from Wimbledon. Federer later revealed that he had been playing through back pain for much of the season, hinting that it was more serious than the public realized.
2. 2016 – Knee Surgery:
Federer’s meniscus injury in 2016 was a major turning point in his career. After losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open, he injured his knee while running a bath for his twin daughters. This seemingly minor domestic accident resulted in knee surgery, forcing Federer to withdraw from several tournaments. He returned mid-year but struggled with his fitness, ultimately deciding to take the rest of the season off. During this period, there were rumors that his knee injury was far more severe than initially disclosed, and there was widespread concern that it could force him into early retirement.
3. 2019 – Knee and Back Woes Return:
In 2019, Federer hinted at ongoing knee and back issues, especially after an intense 2019 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. Although Federer played an incredible match, leading many to believe he was still in top form, there were later rumors that he had been nursing a knee injury leading up to and after the tournament. This would later lead to more surgery in 2020.
4. 2020 – Multiple Knee Surgeries:
Federer’s knee issues resurfaced in 2020, leading him to undergo two surgeries in quick succession. While the public was aware of the surgeries, some speculate that Federer may have been dealing with knee pain for longer than was publicly known. His return in 2021 was limited, and Federer himself expressed doubts about whether he could ever return to his peak level of play. The seriousness of these surgeries made it clear that Federer’s career was hanging in the balance, but his determination to try to return after such invasive procedures was extraordinary.
5. Resilience in the Face of Injury:
What makes Federer’s case so compelling is how well he managed to maintain his elite status despite these physical setbacks. For many years, he downplayed the extent of his injuries, keeping the focus on his tennis rather than his personal health struggles. A revelation about how close one of these injuries came to ending his career early would be shocking, given how long Federer remained at the top of the sport.
Throughout his career, Federer has been known for his graceful playing style and remarkable durability, but injuries were always lurking in the background. If Federer were to open up in more detail about how serious some of these injuries truly were, it would make headlines and show the toll professional tennis takes on even the greatest athletes.