PARIS — Roger Federer withdrew from this year’s French Open on Thursday, putting an end to one of tennis’s most remarkable streaks.
The last time Federer, 34, did not take part in the main draw in singles at a Grand Slam event was last millennium. That was in August 1999, when he lost in the second round of the qualifying tournament at the United States Open to his fellow Swiss Ivo Heuberger.
Since then, Federer has played in a record 65 straight Grand Slam singles tournaments, winning a record 17 titles and firmly establishing himself as the most successful men’s player of the Open era.