Roger Federer announces on Facebook he has been forced to pull out of French Open

ROGER FEDERER has revealed he will not compete at this year’s French Open due to a back injury.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner did not play at the Madrid Open earlier in the month and was eliminated in third round of the Italian Open.

Federer, who was champion in 2009, will end a sensational run of 65 consecutive He posted: “I regret to announce that I have made the decision not to play in this year’s French Open.

“I have been making steady progress with my overall fitness, but I am still not 100 per cent and feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready.

“This decision was not easy to make, but I took it to ensure I could play the remainder of the season and help to extend the rest of my career.

“I remain as motivated and excited as ever and my plan is to achieve the highest level of fitness before returning to the ATP World Tour for the upcoming grass court season.

“I am sorry for my fans in Paris but I very much look forward to returning to Roland Garros in 2017.”

Federer has an astonishing Grand Slam record, winning his first — Wimbledon — in 2003.

He then retained his title for the next four tournaments, before eventually succumbing to Rafa Nadal in an epic final.

In that time, he also won four US Open titles and three Australian Open titles.

He completed his career Grand Slam with victory at Roland Garros in 2009.

Federer is the only man in the history of the sport to have reached a final of each event at least five times.

He has been most successful in Wimbledon, having won at the All-England club on seven occasions.