Sport | Tennis

Roger Federer pulls out of Dubai Tennis Championships

This is the second successive year Federer has skipped the "home event"

  • By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 16:17 February 21, 2010

  • Image Credit: Francois Nel/Gulf News
  • Roger Federer

Dubai: Top-seeded Roger Federer has pulled out of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships due to a chest infection he developed last week, according to an ATP Tour representative.

The world No 1 has been advised to rest for a week by doctors.

Tommy Robredo of Spain will replace the Swiss in the fresh draw to be announced later this evening.

This is the second successive year Federer has skipped the “home event”.

The Swiss ace withdrew for the championships in 2009 due to a back injury.

Has it become a common practice for players to pull out of tournaments? Will Federer’s exit rob the event of its star power? Who do you think will win the tournament now?

Comments (3)

  1. Added 15:01 February 22, 2010

    the excitement has been lessened with FEDEX pulling out the tourney. it's a big upset for the tennis fans and the tournament.

    Bryan Arpafo, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 09:36 February 22, 2010

    Perhaps The Gulf News should investigate if he has already been paid his attendance fee, and if so is he going to pay it back? I for one will now NOT be attending

    Martin Hoyle, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 19:09 February 21, 2010

    Yes it has become a common thing for top players to drop out of tournaments like the one in Dubai. So it is not Federer's second home which GN claimed earlier. Reality is different.

    Anonymous, London, United Kingdom

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