FEDERER OPENS UP

ROGER FEDERER has revealed the real reason why he took a break from tennis. “Taking sort of nine weeks off in the clay court season wasn’t something actually I had planned,” Roger Federer told Sky Sports. “That only come by me winning the Australian, Indian Wells and Miami. That gave me that opportunity that I should maybe take it easy and save myself for the rest of the season. So I hope that I will feel the benefit now while other guys are maybe getting a bit tired. I’m actually still fresh in a sense because I didn’t play that much this season. I’m used to playing 70, 90, 100 matches a season, so this year that’s not the case. That’s why I feel refreshed for Shanghai, and also for Paris and London.”

the Shanghai Masters is over after he also pulled out of his scheduled doubles match with Frenchman Lucas Pouille. His immediate future in tennis is again under threat following Tuesday’s incident, when he hastily exited the court with jeers and boos ringing in his ears. It came after he complained about the umpire and spectators in the arena, and was docked a point penalty for the second match running because of his conduct, which included blasting a ball out of the court in a flash of rage. “What’s happening here?” he asked, seemingly irritated by spectators moving around between points in the tie break. “Exactly why I shouldn’t come here,” he muttered, later adding: “Sick of this place.”