Switzerland's world number one Roger Federer has pulled out of next month's Japan Open and Shanghai Masters 1000.

The 28-year-old told organisers he was withdrawing to rest his body "after a physically challenging year".

"I decided to withdraw from both tournaments so that I can give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and fully recover," Federer added.

The Japan Open takes place between 5-11 October, while the Shanghai Masters begins the following week.

Federer reclaimed his world...

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The draw for the 2010 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas has been made in Geneva with some intriguing World Group ties coming out of the hat. Spain, the 2008 champion and top seed, has been drawn at home against Switzerland in a mouth watering fixture that could see the world’s top two players, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, going head-to-head. Spain will be attempting to become the first nation since Sweden in 1998 to successfully retain the Davis Cup when it faces Czech Republic in the Fi...

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Spain will host the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final in December after both countries won their semi-finals. The two Contries have played each othe 5 times before, with Spain narrowly ahead 3-2.  Spain are aiming to become the first Country since Sweden in 1997-98 to win successive davic Cup titles.

Both teams completed dead singles rubbers on Sunday after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead into the final day.

Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez beat Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6 6-7 6-4 6...

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$31,500 – that’s the total amount of fines being collected at the 2009 US Open according to tournament spokesman Chris Widmaier.

 

The majority of this is obviously covered by the $10,000 fine incurred by Serena Williams for unsportsmanlike conduct for abusing a line judge during her semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters.  Williams was also fined $500 for racquet abuse during the same match. 

 

This amount is only 3% of her prize money for reaching the Semi-finals.  However, the fine coul...

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These may not be the big stories of a US Open that had a Wildcard winning the women’s competition and a 5 set men’s final that saw Federer lose his crown, was witness to Serena losing her cool and for the only the 6th time in it’s history did not have and American in either singles final. 

But these tennis players that are know for being intense and focused have to face the press.  Then there seems to be a new competition - which journalist can come up with the most bizarre question.  B...

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Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro ended Roger Federer's five-year unbeaten reign at the US Open in five dramatic sets to win his first Grand Slam title.

The 20-year-old sixth seed twice fought back from a set down to win 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

Del Potro is the first man other than Rafael Nadal to beat Federer in the final of a Grand Slam tournament.

Swiss star Federer, 28, had been going for a record-equalling sixth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows.

American Bill Tild...

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Defending champion Roger Federer will face Juan Martin del Potro in Monday's US Open final after the Swiss beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

Federer extended his unbeaten run at Flushing Meadows to 40 matches with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-5 win.

And the world number one got to match point with a spectacular 'hotdog' through-the-legs shot that he later described as the best of his career.

Argentine Del Potro beat Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-2 6-2 in the first semi-final.

It is the third year runni...

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Defending champion Roger Federer withstood a superb fightback from Robin Soderling to win in four sets and reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

The world number one, going for a sixth straight title at Flushing Meadows, won 6-0 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (8-6).

Federer will take on Novak Djokvic in his 22nd consecutive Grand Slam semi.

Fourth seed Djokovic survived a tough encounter with Fernando Verdasco to win 7-6 (7-2) 1-6 7-5 6-2 and reach his third straight US Open semi-final.

The final ...

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Reigning champion Roger Federer booked a US Open quarter-final clash against Robin Soderling with a 7-5 6-2 6-2 win over Spaniard Tommy Robredo.

The world number one broke Robredo in the 11th game to clinch a tight first set before breaking twice more in a far more comfortable second.

An aggressive Federer wrapped up victory in the third set with an ace.

Novak Djokovic remains on course for a semi-final against Federer after beating Radek Stepanek 6-1 6-3 6-3.

Djokovic, seeded fourth,...

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Defending champion Roger Federer moved into round four of the US Open with victory over Lleyton Hewitt but Andy Roddick was knocked out by John Isner.

Top seed Federer came from behind to beat Hewitt 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 and will next play 14th seed Tommy Robredo.

But Roddick, seeded fifth, was stunned 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 3-6 5-7 7-6 (7-5) by unseeded fellow American Isner in a thriller lasting just over four hours.

Fourth seed Novak Djokovic battled to a four-set win against Jesse Witten.

Ferna...

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in good form as both enjoyed straight-sets wins at the US Open on Wednesday.

World number three Nadal swept past Richard Gasquet in round one on his return to Grand Slam action.

The third seed, who missed Wimbledon with tendonitis in both knees, powered to a 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory to set up a match against Germany's Nicolas Kiefer.

And Federer, playing his second-round match, beat Germany's Simon Greul 6-3 7-5 7-5 in the night session.

Greul, the world...

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World number one Roger Federer began the defence of his US Open title with a 6-1 6-3 7-5 victory over American teenager Devin Britton.

Federer started magnificently and broke his 18-year-old opponent twice before taking the opening set in 18 minutes.

The 28-year-old Swiss was broken first in both the second and third sets but came through in 88 minutes and will play Germany's Simon Greul next.

Fifth seed Andy Roddick beat Bjorn Phau 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the night match.

Roddick did not get ...

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It was the most anticipated first sight of a ceiling since Michelangelo pulled back the covers on the Sistine Chapel. And as far as roofs go, the one over Centre Court that was used for the first time on Wimbledon Day 7 worked very well thank you. It kept the rain out.

It was not a torrential downpour that caused the roof to be closed, in fact by the time play had recommenced on Centre Court they were also playing on all the other, roofless, courts. But that’s beside the point.

The point ...

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Roger Federer dropped a set and it didn’t rain on Wimbledon Day 5. The rain had been forecast, the dropped set had not.

At the start of the day, the weather forecast had predicted a 40% chance of heavy rain. But few people would have expected Philipp Kohlschreiber to get anything from his match against Federer given that he had lost in straight sets to the Swiss in three previous meetings.

There was not a drop of rain but Kohlschreiber gave Federer a contest 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1.

...

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Maria Sharapova is out of Wimbledon. Perhaps that is worth repeating: Maria Sharapova will play no further part in the 123rd Wimbledon Championships.

The crowd favourite and 2004 champion was beaten in three fraught and painful sets by Gisela Dulko 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round, her worst result here since – well, since here last year.

Of course, she has only been back in action for just over a month after surgery on a long-term shoulder injury. Still feeling her way back, she is no...

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Day One of the 123rd Wimbledon Championships – and it was a disaster. Well, it was if you had just spent a fortune on a new roof for the Centre Court. So, what sort of weather did we have on the dawn of the brave new age of life with a roof? Sunshine, a few clouds and hours and hours of uninterrupted play. Not a drop of rain to be seen. Rats! The roof will have to wait for another day.

Other than that, Day One could not have been better. The brand-spanking new No.2 Court was opened by th...

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