Roger Federer will miss the rest of the 2020 season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery the tennis great confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, however, assured fans he will be back in time for 2021, the year he turns 40.

Federer has opted to sit out the remaining two of 2020 – the US and French Opens – in order to fully recover from a niggling knee problem.

The Swiss published a letter to his fans on social media saying: ”A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional quick arthroscopic procedure on my right knee.

”Now, much like I did leading up to the 2017 season, I plan to take the necessary time to be 100% ready to play at my highest level.

”I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but, I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season.”

The 38-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in his last foray at a Grand Slam in January, losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic.

Federer won’t be overly concerned with missing the US Open in August and the rescheduled French in late September as they represent his weakest Major tournaments on paper.

He has routinely skipped the French Open in recent years to conserve strength for the grass season and Wimbledon which he has won a record eight times.

He has won the French once, in 2009, and the US Open five times while he has six Australian Open titles.

Federer’s next major tournament will likely be the 2021 Australian Open, exactly a year on from when he last took to the court at a Grand Slam. He will turn 40 in August 2021.