Roger Federer clinched his 103rd career title at Basel on Sunday but the world number three Roger Federer announced on Monday that he was withdrawing from this week's Paris Masters in order to "pace" himself for the next year, reports AFP.
"I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the Paris Masters," he said in a statement. "I have to pace myself since I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour.
"I am sorry for my French fans who I will see next year at Roland Garros."
Tournament director Guy Forget said he was "disappointed" with Federer's late decision to withdraw. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old won his 10th Basel trophy, smothering young Australian Alex De Minaur 6-2, 6-2 to secure what the Swiss legend described as "an unbelievable" success at the home-town tournament where he used to work as a ballboy.
He is now just six short of the record 109 ATP titles won by American Jimmy Connors but may be tempted to skip Paris, the final event of the regular season, to conserve his energy ahead of the ATP Finals in London.
"I've got a team meeting scheduled for Monday to discuss not just Paris but next season, I guess by tomorrow I'll know If I'm going to Paris or not," said Federer. "My fitness is fine, I'm happy with how I feel. I just don't know if I should play next week. I'll figure it out with the team."
Federer returned to the Paris Masters last year for the first time since 2015 and reached the semi-finals where he lost a three-set semi-final thriller to Novak Djokovic, who is top seed ahead of Rafael Nadal in the French capital this year.
On Sunday, Federer cut an emotional figure as he was presented with the trophy at the Basel tournament. In the crowd of 9,000 were his wife and four children.
"It might be remembering back at all that went into this week, the family of maybe the (coaching) team aspect," said Federer when asked to explain his emotions.
"People think I just go out there
and do it at will -- but it's not that
way at all.
"Sometimes I stand there and look back at what I've gone through. The ballkids running onto court that can get me going. Also thanking the fans at the end."
Federer said his success at Basel, where he is on a 24-win streak and has won 75 matches against just nine losses, had been "an incredible journey".
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