Swiss number one Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup next month with a spokeswoman for Tennis Canada claiming he has pulled out to “make sure he will be (in) top shape” for the US Open.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner has not been in competitive action since losing to Serbian star Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final earlier this month but a reappearance at the Rogers Cup was expected.
The event, which see’s the men play in Montreal while 38 of the top-40 women compete in Toronto, begins on August 10 and it will be Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga aiming to retain his title.
Federer, who won the ATP World Tour Masters series event in 2004 and 2006, will not be included in the field but failed to specify a reason for the withdrawal when quizzed about it.
“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,” he said. “My family and I have always received first-class treatment from tournament director, Eugene Lapierre, and his team and I hope to be back in the future.”
Federer’s decision to opt against playing is rumoured to be so the Swiss star can get into peak condition for the US Open, which stars on August 31.
The 33-year-old has won the tournament five times but he has been unable to win a Grand Slam event since lifting the Wimbledon trophy at the All England Club in 2012.
However, signs of revival have been shown over the past year-and-a-half and Federer is third favourite at 7.00 to win the title at Flushing Meadows once again.
World number one Novak Djokovic is shortest odds at 2.15 while Britain’s Andy Murray is following closely behind at 5.00.
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