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Federer back for Shanghai finale

03/11/2005

Roger Federer has confirmed that he will defend his title at the end-of-season Masters Cup after shaking off an injury.

The indomitable Swiss has been out of action since beating Britain's Andy Murray in the final of the Thailand Open in Bangkok at the beginning of October.

And the rest of tennis' elite must have been secretly hoping the ankle injury that has ruled the world number one out since would also see him miss the year's finale later this month.

But Federer, who has already claimed 11 ATP tour titles this season, today dispersed any such hopes as he confirmed he will indeed be in China to fight for a title he won both last year and in 2003.

"A few weeks ago I was not sure how quickly my ankle would recover but now I am on the court and playing again," Federer said.

"I go to Shanghai with a fresh mind and really look forward to defending the title."

Federer will join Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, Spain's Rafael Nadal, American duo Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi in the glittering round-robin event, but Russia's Australian Open champion Marat Safin will not be in attendance.

Safin, the world number five, confirmed today that he would not be able to compete because of a knee injury, opening the door for Argentina's Guillermo Coria.

The final competitors taking part will be finalised after the completion of this week's Paris Masters, although Fernando Gonzalez and David Nalbandian will not be in the mix after losing in the last 16 today.

Nikolay Davydenko, who today beat fellow Russian Dmitry Tursunov, Swede Thomas Johansson, Argentine Ivan Ljubicic and big-serving Croat Gaston Gaudio are those hoping to qualify for the battle of the world's top eight players, which begins on November 13th.

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