Tennis icon Roger Federer admitted that his legendary career may be over as he's forced into yet another knee surgery

• Roger Federer will be sidelined for "many months" as he undergoes a third operation on his right knee.
• The eight-time Wimbledon winner says there is only a "glimmer of hope" of him returning to competition.
• The 40-year-old has not played a match since the quarter finals of Wimbledon in June.

One of the greatest tennis players of all time, Roger Federer, is hoping surgery will give him a "glimmer of hope" of returning to the sport he has played since he was 14 years old.

The eight-time Wimbledon champion took to Instagram on Sunday to say he will be out of action for "many months" as he undergoes a third surgery on his right knee.

Federer has not played since being knocked out of the quarter finals of this year's Wimbledon in June and the question of whether he will ever be able to return to the game has been raised.

"I've been doing a lot of checks with the doctors, as well, on my knee, getting all the information as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon.

"Unfortunately they told me for the medium to long term, to feel better, I will need surgery, so I decided to do it. I will be on crutches for many weeks and then also out of the game for many months." he said.

The 40-year-old shares the record of 20 grand slam titles with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic but has said he is "realistic" about his time on the court being over.

"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, also, 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."

Federer's knee problems resurfacing after tough 2020

In his 23-year-career, Federer has largely managed to avoid long term injuries but if there is one area of his body that causes him more problems than anywhere else, it is his knees.

His first injury to the area came from a freak accident in 2016 when he tore his left meniscus when he was giving his twin daughters a bath.

He recovered to win Wimbledon the following year but in 2020, his playing time was drastically cut short following an issue in his right knee.

Federer had the first of his right knee surgeries in February of last year but when he returned at the French Open in May, he was forced to withdraw and have a follow-up surgery in June.

The 40-year-old also cited his knee as the reason for him withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics.