Why Roger Federer is not playing Wimbledon 2022 

Roger Federer will not participate in Wimbledon this year, marking the first time in more than two decades that he will miss the grasscourt Major.

Earlier this month, the tournament released its entry list for the upcoming edition, which is set to begin on 27 June. Fans were shattered when the 20-time Grand Slam champion's name wasn't on the list.

Plagued by a long-term knee injury, Federer has undergone three surgeries since February 2020. The Swiss revealed in April that his recovery was well on track and that he plans to make his return at the Laver Cup in September. He has also confirmed his participation in the Swiss Indoors in Basel in October, a tournament he has won 10 times.

Having won the Wimbledon Championships a record eight times, the 40-year-old has a phenomenal record at the grasscourt Slam. Among male players, Federer has the highest number of match wins at Wimbledon — 105. This was also the record for the highest number of wins in a single Slam until Rafael Nadal won his 106th match at the 2022 French Open.

Federer made his Wimbledon debut in 1999, a year after winning the junior title. Since then, he has participated in every edition of the event. In 2020, the tournament was called off due to the pandemic.

Federer played his last match in the 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinals against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, who beat the Swiss maestro 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-0. This was Federer's first bagel at a Major since the 2008 French Open final against Nadal.

Can Roger Federer win another Grand Slam?

Roger Federer poses with the 2018 Australian Open trophy

The first male player to reach 20 Grand Slams, Roger Federer's last Major title came at the 2018 Australian Open, where he beat Croatia's Marin Cilic in the final. The Swiss had two championship points in the 2019 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic but failed to cross the finish line as the Serb produced a spirited fightback.

Earlier this year, Rafael Nadal broke a three-way tie at the top of the Slam leaderboard as he lifted his second Australian Open title and 21st Major overall. By winning the 2022 Roland Garros as well, the Spaniard managed to extend his lead over Federer and Djokovic to two. While it looks like Djokovic still has a few Slams left in him, the chances of Federer winning another Major are extremely low.