Federer confirms Paris Masters participation; Kukushkin wins
PARIS: Roger Federer on Tuesday conirmed his participation at this year’s Paris Masters after a threeyear absence.
The Swiss world number three will play the winner of the tie between France’s Jo-wilfried Tsonga and Croatia’s Milos Raonic on Wednesday after recieving a bye in the first round.
“I prefer playing to training as long as I don’t take any risks ahead of the London Masters, (November 11-18),” Federer said.
“I feel like I’ve recovered well after last week. I feel good today (Tuesday),” he added after winning the Swiss indoor championships in Basel on Sunday.
Federer’s only tournament victory in Bercy came in 2011.
Meanwhile French hopes of success were dented when Pierrehugues Herbert, Jeremy Chardy and Benoit Paire were knocked-out in the first round on Tuesday.
World number 57 Herbert was beaten by Kazakhstan’s Mikail Kukushkin in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 7-5) while Jeremy Chardy, ranked 40th, lost 6-4, 6-4 to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.
The 56th-ranked Paire made the opening round through the qualifiers but lost 6-4, 6-4 to Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.
EDMUND PULLS OUT
Kyle Edmund was forced to end his season on Tuesday as the British number one withdrew from the Paris Masters with a knee injury.
Edmund has been advised to rest after scans showed a small amount of fluid behind his left knee.
The 23-year-old hopes to recover in time for the start of the 2019 season.
It has been a breakthrough year for world number 15 Edmund, who won his first ATP Tour title and also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January.
Edmund, whose record is 36-21 for the year, had still been in the race for a place as an alternate at the ATP Tour Finals in London next month before pulling out of the Paris Masters.
Russia’s Karen Khachanov was due to be Edmund’s second round opponent in Paris prior to his withdrawal.