Swiss superstar Roger Federer announced on Thursday that he has undergone a knee surgery and will be out of action till the end of the French Open in June.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner revealed on his social media accounts that he underwent surgery in Switzerland on Wednesday and would miss a string of tournaments including the May 24-June 7 French Open. It will be the fourth time in the past five years that Federer will not be contesting at Roland Garros.

The 38-year-old explained that he had intended to avoid surgery if possible but the knee problem refused to go away.

“My right knee has been bothering me for a little while,” said the world No 3 who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals last year.

“I hoped it would go away, but after an examination and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday. After the surgery the doctors confirmed that it was the right thing to have done and are very confident of a full recovery. I can’t wait to be back playing again soon, see you on grass,” he added.

Federer had undergone another knee surgery is early 2016, which was also an Olympic year. Back in February that year, he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and after Wimbledon that year did not play again in order to regain full fitness. He, however, made a scintillating return in 2017, winning first the Australian Open and later Wimbledon.

Federer is currently the defending champion in both Dubai and Miami and is set to drop points by not being able to turn up for those tournaments. He also reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year as well as the finals of Indian Wells, the year’s first Masters 1000 series.

Federer was last seen playing at a charity match in Africa with old rival and close friend Rafael Nadal.