The decision was not a light one to take for Roger Federer who did not play since Wimbledon. In a video posted on his, Instagram Federer explained that he decided to undergo another surgery after lengthy consultations with his team and doctors.
The surgery will not only give Federer the best hope of playing tennis again but also remain healthy after tennis which is a huge motivator for Federer as well. Tennis legend John McEnroe was asked about Federer and those recent developments with the American saying:
"We hope that he’s able to play as long as he wants to play. He’s sort of like our Tom Brady. You look at these older guys, they’re inspiring people like Roger certainly."
The comment was made in an interview McEnroe made with the Post and it paints a clear picture. Everyone in the tennis community wants to see Federer play as long as he can but the reality of the knee issues will be hard to overcome. Time will tell.
Federer did not give a timetable for his return but it's highly unlikely he will return at the Australian Open.