 | MASTERS CUP FIELD Champions Race rankings in bold
1 Roger Federer (Swi)
2 Andy Roddick (US)
3 Lleyton Hewitt (Aus)
4 Carlos Moya (Spa)
5 Guillermo Coria (Arg)
6 Marat Safin (Rus)
7 Tim Henman (GB)
10 Gaston Gaudio (Arg) |
Roger Federer says he expects to be fit in time to defend his Masters Cup title in Houston on 15 November. The world number one is recovering from a torn thigh muscle which forced him to miss the Swiss Indoors and this week's Paris Masters event.
But the 23-year-old said: "In my mind there is little doubt. I will play in the Masters.
"I think I'll manage it in time. I don't want to take any risks of course but I'm optimistic."
Federer was one of several high-profile players to withdraw from Paris, as well as the Madrid Masters in October.
Organisers of both events met on Tuesday and decided to press the ATP to introduce sanctions in order to protect the integrity of the events.
But Federer defended players' rights to miss tournaments in a long season. "You have to take rest periods during the season, they are crucial," he said.
Federer also revealed that he will not play for Switzerland in their Davis Cup first-round tie against the Netherlands in March next year.
He said he would prefer to focus on the two Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Miami.
"One year of tennis does not limit itself to the four Grand Slam tournaments. In winning Indian Wells last year, I had the feeling I took a great step forward," he said.
MMIX
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