Djokovic joins Federer and Soderling; pulls out of Shanghai Masters – Tennis News
Following the 2011 China Open in Beijing, world number one Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the 2011 Shanghai Masters due to an abdominal injury. The Serb had earlier pulled out of the China Open, this week, citing the same reason.
Regretting his withdrawal from the event the Serb apologizing to his fans said, “I am sorry not to be playing in Shanghai, one of my favourite tournaments, but I have not recovered yet from my injury. I did another check this week and the results are not good so I need to continue my rehabilitation.”
A sensation in 2011, Djokovic has won a whopping total of ten titles this year including three Grand Slam wins at Melbourne, London and Flushing Meadows. Of the seven of nine Masters events held during the season, Djokovic has made it to the final of six of them winning titles in five of them. His latest Masters title came at Montreal when he defeated Mardy Fish. However, injured during the Cincinnati final, Djoker had to withdraw from the event giving top Brit Andy Murray an easy win.
Plagued by the same injury, Djokovic had also earlier withdrawn from the Davis Cup semi-final tie against Argentina earlier this month. An emotional Djokovic had exited the court giving Juan Martin Del Potro a rubber win and in effect the tie win. Although, the Serb will be missing Shanghai, he is expected to make a speedy recovery in time for the Basel event.
Joining Djokovic on the sidelines is the former world number one and sixteen time Grand Slam champion, the Swiss maestro Roger Federer. Exhausted from the overwhelming schedule this season, the Swiss decided to take a break from tennis as he pulled out of the China Open and the Shanghai Masters earlier this month. Federer is also expected to make his return to tour in Basel.
While the current and former world number ones are expected to return soon, there seems to be no news concerning former world number four and top ranked Swede Robin Soderling. Having last played at Bastad, Soderling pulled out of the US Open due to an injury and since then has not returned to tour.
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