By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer’s cups runneth over? Not so much.
It’s Laver Cup and nothing else on the team competition front these days for Federer. Switzerland is not part of the upcoming Davis Cup festivities in Madrid and the 38-year-old announced on Wednesday that he will not play in the inaugural ATP Cup this coming January. Federer’s withdrawal means that Switzerland as a team is out of the 2020 ATP Cup.
“After much discussion with both my family and my team about the year ahead, I have decided that the extra two weeks at home will be beneficial for both my family and my tennis,” the 20-time Grand Slam champion explained. “It pains me to not be a part of the most exciting new event on the calendar, but this is the right thing to do if I want to continue to play for a longer period of time on the ATP Tour.
“I am sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment my withdrawal may cause for the fans, but I hope you can understand why I made it. For my Australian fans, I look forward to seeing you all at the Australian Open, fresh and ready to go.”
Federer is doing whatever he can to preserve the longevity of his career, having pulled out of the ongoing Paris Masters after capturing a 10th title in Basel. Since the U.S. Open, he has played at the Laver Cup, in Shanghai, and in Basel. The world No. 3 also has the Nitto ATP Finals on his schedule coming up next month.
“Roger is indisputably a legend of our sport and we have been blessed that he has managed to stay at the top of the game for so long,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley noted. “We understand this has been a really difficult decision for him. He has always done an extraordinary job being a great dad while managing his career.
“Although we know the fans in Sydney would love to have seen him compete in the ATP Cup, we totally respect his decision and look forward to seeing him at the Australian Open.”