Is this the end? Tennis great Roger Federer to miss many months of action due to another surgery

Roger Federer's knee is once again forcing him to miss a significant amount of time on the court. In an Instagram video message on Sunday, Federer revealed that his balky knee once again needs surgery, which will end the 40-year-old's season before the U.S. Open kicks off in several weeks.

Federer said that this third surgery on this knee will keep him on crutches for many weeks" and off the court for many months. He has no intention of retiring yet, but he recognized that at his age, a full comeback will be tough.

"I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the Tour in some shape or form. I am realistic, don't get me wrong, I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it. I'll be on crutches for many weeks and also out of the game for many months, so it's going to be difficult of course in some ways, but at the same time I know it's the right thing to do because I want to be healthy, I want to be running around later as well again and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the tour in some shape or form."

Federer said he hopes that his level of fitness and commitment to staying active will help him recover and get another shot at playing high-level tennis. The living tennis legend, who once seemed invincible, hasn't been able to get clear of this knee issue. He had his first surgery on his right knee in February 2020, which forced him to miss a number of tournaments, including the French Open. He had wanted to return for grass-court season, but announced in June 2020 that he needed to have a second procedure on his knee and would miss the rest of the season.

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The 2021 season was supposed to be Federer's comeback, but he wasn't able to start on time. He withdrew from the Australian Open to continue rehabbing his knee. He played at the French Open, even making it to the Round of 16, but more knee problems forced him to withdraw. It looked like he might be on the upswing at Wimbledon, making it to the quarterfinals, but was beaten in straight sets. That defeat was only his 14th at the All England Club in 119 matches, and the first time he had been beaten in the tournament in straight sets since a first-round exit at the hands of Mario Ancic in 2002. It was also the first time he had lost a set 6-0 at Wimbledon and just the third time at a Slam.

After turning 40 last weekend, Federer said he was learning to adjust to the fact that recovering from niggles takes two weeks rather than two days.

"It was different before. The questions were simple: what is my place in the ranking? What will my next tournament be? Today, it's more difficult: how do I feel when I start training again? What are my goals? How to reconcile all this with the family? What does the rest of the team say? I am much more enthusiastic than before, the attitude is different. It's really completely different from 10 years ago."

Federer captured his most recent major at the 2018 Australian Open. He was already well past 36 and the second oldest man to clinch a Slam title. Since then, Novak Djokovic has claimed eight more majors and old rival Rafael Nadal has picked up four. Both now stand level on 20 Slams with Federer.

Should Federer be preparing to bow out after 23 years on tour, he will leave behind a career decorated by 103 titles -- only Jimmy Connors with 109 has more -- a combined 310 weeks at number one and more than $130 million in prize money alone.