Some rather surprising news here as Roger Federer has just announced that he has undergone an operation on his right knee and will miss Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Bogota and the French Open.

The Swiss took to social media to make the news public which you can see in his statement below. He hopes to return for the grass-court swing with Halle and Wimbledon on his schedule.

My right knee has been bothering me for a little while. I hoped it would go away, bug after an examination and discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery in Switzerland yesterday. After the procedure, the doctors confirmed that it was the right thing to have done and are very confident of a full recovery. As a result, I will unfortunately have to miss Dubai Indian Wells, Bogota, Miami and the French Open. I am grateful for everyone's support. I can't wait t be back playing again soon, see you on the grass! Federer on his surgery announcement

So bad news, and unexpected. I did wonder why he wasn't pictured in Dubai practising, assuming it was the groin problem from Australia but it seems there was a more long term problem that needed to be dealt with.

The good news is that arthroscopic surgery is not invasive and he's obviously learnt the lesson from 2016 when he rushed back from a meniscus tear repair on his left knee. Only to be then forced to end his season after Wimbledon when he realised his knee needed longer to recover.