Roger Federer has withdrawn from this year's French Open, marking the first time the former world number one has missed a Grand Slam since the U.S. Open in 1999. Federer, 34, cited back problems as keeping him from the court. "I feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready," he said in an apology to his fans that he posted to Facebook.
Federer is a 17-time Grand Slam champion, and has played in 65 consecutive majors.
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