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No Roger (Federer) this year at the Rogers Cup

No Roger (Federer) this year at the Rogers Cup

MONTREAL –  Two-time Rogers Cup champion Roger Federer has decided not to celebrate his birthday in Canada this year.

The world No. 2 has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

“I am disappointed that I won’t be playing in Montreal because it’s a tournament and a city that I really enjoy and has incredible fans. My family and I have always received first class treatment from Tournament Director, Eugène Lapierre, and his team," was the quote from the world No. 2 in Tennis Canada's press release.

Federer reached the final last year in Toronto, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He has played the tournament 11 times, but skipped it in  2012 and 2013 as he shortened the challenging summer hard-court season to give himself the best opportunity to make a big run at the US Open. With another big Masters 1000 tournament scheduled for the very next week in steamy Cincinnati, it's a tough stretch – especially for a player who will turn 34 on Aug. 8.

He even made it in 2009, just a few weeks after his twin girls were born and when there was every expectation that he would withdraw.                      

"We are obviously disappointed to have Roger withdraw as it is always a privilege to watch him play,” tournament director Lapierre said. "We also understand his decision because, above all, he has always been very loyal to our event and we would love to see him play tennis for many more years to come.”   

Federer also is quoted as saying that he "hoped to be back in the future," – which in the case of Montreal would next be 2017, when he would be almost 36.

 

Federer hasn't won his namesake Cup since 2006, the second of his two titles in Toronto. The Montreal crowd, devoted to Federer as are most tennis crowds around the world, has never seen him hoist the trophy. He reached the final once, back in 2007, part of an impressive run that saw 20-year-old Djokovic (then ranked No. 4) defeated No. 3 Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals, No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semis and No. 1 Federer 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 in the final.

No reason was given for the withdrawal but at this point in his career; Federer doesn't need to claim injury or "personal reasons" to skip a Masters 1000 tournament even if they are technically mandatory.

Here's the relevant section of the ATP Tour rule book:

At his age, with his service time, Federer can do what he wants now. (ATPTour)
At his age, with his service time, Federer can do what he wants now. (ATPTour)

 

Federer meets all three conditions, with plenty of margin to spare.

Poland's Jerzy Janowicz will take his spot in the main draw.

So far, Juan Monaco of Argentina and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain also have pulled out of the event. Gilles Muller of Luxembourg and Joao Sousa of Portugal inherited their spots.