Paris Masters To Go Federer-Less

Written by: Staff on 28th October 2012

Paris Masters To Go Federer-Less

epa03449104 Switzerland's Roger Federer serves a ball to France's Paul-Henri Mathieu during their semifinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 27 October 2012. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Citing a few “niggling” injuries, defending BNP Paribas Paris Masters champion Roger Federer was forced to pull out of the last regular ATP tournament and one of biggest of the year on Sunday.

Federer, who lost a 2-hour, 44-minute final against Juan Martin del Potro at the Swiss Indoors earlier in the day, said he needed to rest for the ATP World Tour Finals, which will be played next week in London. Federer is also the defending ATP World Tour Finals champion.

Last year, Federer defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win the Paris indoor crown for the first time at age 30. If he had played, Federer was attempting to win a record-breaking 22nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown, having already posted victories this year at Indian Wells, Madrid and Cincinnati.

“I’m not going. It’s the only right decision for me,” Federer said. “I had some niggling stuff and I didn’t want to take a chance obviously before the World Tour Finals. I need some time to prepare.”

Federer will start a record 302nd week ranked No. 1 on Monday, but risks losing that status to Novak Djokovic in the final two weeks of the season.

“I had one of the best weeks of my life last year,” said Federer. “The fans were amazing and the last thing I want to do is mislead any fans. This is really just a last-minute decision.”

Tournament organizers said Federer will be replaced in the main draw by lucky loser Victor Hanescu of Romania.

Topics: Bnp Paribas Masters, Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Paris Masters, Roger Federer, Sports, Swiss tennis news, Tennis News, Victor Hanescu