“I hurt my back in my second-round match against Zemlja and just got a little bit better for the match against Seppi,” Federer told the press. “I don't feel a whole lot of improvement for today, and I just don't think it's the right time to risk anything more right now. I still have pain, and that's why it was the only right decision, a difficult one for me.”
"It's a sad moment for me and for the tournament and for the fans, but health goes first, like everybody knows, unfortunately, and I hope I can recover quickly. So that's No. 1 on the agenda right now.”
It's only the second time in 996 matches on the tour that Federer has pulled out of a tournament through injury and the Swiss said that he's staying until the end of the week to help with his off-court commitments.
“I was always going to stay till tomorrow night, regardless if I was going to lose first round or win the tournament, so those plans don't change,” he said. “I think I'm going to say something on the court later on, and I might be back again tomorrow for the 20th anniversary for the former champions. I'm here, anyway. So I'm happy to help the tournament.”
