Federer to skip French Open after losing No.1 ranking
March 25, 2018
Roger Federer will be replaced as world number one by Rafael Nadal after a shock 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 defeat by Australian outsider Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Miami Open.
It was the second loss in six days for the Swiss champion, who was beaten by Juan Martin del Potro in the Indian Wells final.
Kokkinakis, ranked 175th in the world, used a vicious top-spin forehand to wear down the defending champion and claim an upset victory in front of a stunned near-capacity crowd. He only got into the Miami qualifiers on a wildcard, but he displayed the talent that has long had him earmarked as one to watch.
Skipping the clay again
Federer, who became the oldest ever world number one when he topped the rankings in February at the age of 36, will skip the French Open, which starts on May 27, for the second straight season. He confirmed Sunday that he'll sit out the clay-court season altogether — a schedule that brought him success last year.
After winning back-to-back tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami in 2017, he took a break, returning in mid-June at the grass court tournament in Stuttgart. He lost his first match there, but went on to win at Halle and Wimbledon.
mds/dv (AFP, Reuters)