Injured Federer pulls out of Qatar Open
Defending champion Roger Federer has pulled out of his semifinal match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the tennis tournament in Qatar because of a back injury.
The Swiss tennis star said his back had not improved since Thursday when he beat Andreas Seppi in three sets despite pain.
“I don’t feel a whole lot of improvement for today, and I just don’t think it is the right time to risk anything more right now,” he told reporters.
However, the 16-time Grand Slam champion said he expected to be fit for the Australia Open to begin on January 16.
“I’m optimistic, just because it’s not very good but it isn’t crazy bad,” Federer said. “I have had bad backs in the past. I feel without play and with the right treatment, I will get through it in the next few days.”
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