Organizers said on Sunday that the top-ranked Swiss star picked up the infection last week and will miss the $2 million event, which starts Monday, for the second straight year.
A four-time winner in Dubai, Federer will rest for two weeks and is expected to return at Indian Wells on March 11.
Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic replaces him in the main draw.
Andy Roddick, the 2008 champion, withdrew from the tournament on Saturday.
Roddick’s reason for withdrawing remains unclear, though I’m sure it has to do with his shoulder injury at the Australian Open. It must be more serious than we thought.
As for Federer, his decision is an easy one. While the $2 million prize money would be nice, his only focus is winning Grand Slams at this point in his career and he needs to be completely healthy.
Andy Murray is a player with all the talent in the world, but has lacked the magic that helps one prevail in a Grand Slam. He’s faced criticism ever since he cracked the top 10 in the world rankings. Experts think he lacks the ambition and stamina that the decorated players possess. I’ve never thought that was true. After losing an important match, I always notice a look of shame on Murray’s face. I just think the pressure can become a bit too much for him when progressing towards a Grand Slam final. His self-doubt must arise when people openly ponder when his time will come. Of course, Murray is just 22 years old, so it’s unfair to call his career a lost cause. Murray will eventually capture a Grand Slam — everyone expects it. Tennis fans are just tired of waiting.
Murray has breezed through the 2010 Australian Open. In the fourth round, he defeated 33rd seed John Isner in straight sets. The quarterfinals posed a much tougher challenge in Rafael Nadal, last year’s champion. Murray was incredible in the first set, sending Nadal all over the court. It looked to be a gigantic upset. However, Nadal rebounded in the second set and suddenly we had a match. The set went into a tiebreak, which Murray took. To everyone’s disappointment, Nadal later retired the match. Nevertheless, it’s our own fault for immediately crediting the outcome to Nadal’s injuries rather than Murray’s excellence. Even though Nadal’s knees got the best of him, this was Murray’s match to be had. In the semifinals, Murray took on Marin Cilic, a young Croatian coming off a spectacular five-set win against Andy Roddick. Murray was yet to drop a set, but everyone prepared for him to collapse as he usually does at this point in a Grand Slam. When Cilic won the first set, it didn’t look good. However, whether driven by the skeptics, his pride, or both, Murray immediately gained control and took the next three sets.
Now, as per usual, Roger Federer is waiting in the final. The Grand Slams were made in Federer’s image and Murray knows it. The last time these two met in a Grand Slam final was at the 2008 U.S. Open. Things did not turn out well for Murray as he was routed by Federer in straight sets. Strangely enough, Murray holds a 6-4 overall record against Federer. However, as Federer is quick to point out, only one of those was a five-setter, that being his victory at the U.S. Open.
Simply put, Murray needs the energy to play up to four or even five hours. Murray is one of the few players that matches up well with Federer. He’s able to read Federer’s groundstrokes, which prevents him from having to chase after the ball. His overally game has improved, but that isn’t going to be enough. This match is going into the fifth set. If Murray is prepared to go the distance, he might walk away with his first Grand Slam championship.
Following his straight-set victory against Roger Federer, Nicolay Davydenko overcame early struggles to defeat Rafael Nadal 0-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 in the Qatar Open final.
From FOXSports.com:
Davydenko led 4-1 in the second-set tiebreaker but unforced errors allowed Nadal to twice serve for the match. However, the Spaniard sprayed his returns wide, and Davydenko broke two times to Nadal’s one in the third set to close it out.
The sixth-ranked Russian’s third straight victory over Nadal improved his overall record to 5-4.
“I did not come here expecting to win. I am surprised that I have won,” Davydenko said. “It is an amazing feeling to have won here. I have played semifinals and finals here but never won.”
It was a second consecutive title for Davydenko after winning the London World Tour Finals on Nov. 29. He also beat Nadal and Roger Federer in that event.
David Nalbandian of Argentina is the only other player to beat Federer and Nadal in the same tournament on two occasions — at the Madrid Masters and Paris Masters in 2007.
Players rarely beat both Nadal and Federer in the same tournament, but now Davydenko has done it twice. That’s quite a feat. However, the 28-year-old is yet to win a Grand Slam, which is his main criticism. Given Davydenko’s unpredictable success in Qatar, he could finally get his due in less than two weeks at the Australian Open.
Roger Federer continued his dominant season, defeating Novak Djokavic to capture his third Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati.
The 28-year-old Federer is the fourth player to win at least three titles at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in the Open Era (since 1968). He has now won 16 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (16-9 overall), second only to Andre Agassi’s 17, and 61 tour-level titles during his career (61-22 lifetime).
Federer cruised through the 33-minute first set, which included a 13-minute second game. Djokovic saved six of seven break points but Federer made the breakthrough and went on to secure a second service break in the fourth game. Federer won 16 of 19 service points, while Djokovic clinched his third service game to avoid a 6-0 set.
The Swiss superstar has a 202-60 match record since playing his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament at the 1999 Sony Ericcson Open in Miami. He trails only Agassi (209 wins).
Federer, who has been No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for 244 weeks – fourth all-time behind Pete Sampras (286), Ivan Lendl (270) and Jimmy Connors (268), has captured three titles this year at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid (d. Nadal), Roland Garros (d. Soderling) and Wimbledon (d. Roddick).
Well, ladies and gents, it looks like we have a favorite going into the 2009 U.S. Open. Of course, this has already been a remarkable year for Fed, regaining his No. 1 ranking and becoming the Grand Slam record holder. That’s all well and good, but I’m hoping Federer doesn’t cruise through the U.S. Open. His loss to Rafael Nadal in the final at the Australian Open was great, as was his victory over Andy Roddick in the final at Wimbledon. Still, it’s seemed like he’s had an easy time since Nadal took some time off to nurse his knees. Thankfully, Andy Roddick has had a surprising year, giving the fans another epic Wimbledon final, nearly beating the Federer on his favorite surface.
Hopefully, Nadal can regain his prowess and make a run at the U.S. Open, the only Grand Slam he’s never won. Federer’s secured his place in the pantheon of tennis, so now I don’t feel like a have to root for the guy in every match. I’d like to see the wealth spread a little. Where you at Roddick and Blake?
