Roger Federer will miss the French tennis Open for the fourth time in five years

The Swiss great has undergone surgery for a knee issue and won't return until the grass court season at the earliest.

Federer says his right knee has been bothering him for a while and he had hoped it would just go away.

He says after the procedure, doctors confirmed he had made the right decision to have surgery and they are very confident of a full recovery.

Federer will also miss the big US events at Indian Wells and Miami.

TENNIS WITH CROWN FORKLIFTS. ASK ABOUT GETTING ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS WITH THEIR DEMO CHALLENGE.