Federer cuts back on clay tournaments
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Roger Federer says he will trim back his clay court schedule in 2009 despite the French Open being the only major missing from his 13 grand slam titles.
The world number two, who has lost the last three French Open finals to Rafael Nadal, will skip the Monte Carlo event and intends to play just the clay court warm-ups in Rome and Madrid.
Federer, whose prime objective in 2009 is to win back the Wimbledon crown he sensationally lost to Nadal, played four clay court events in 2008 at Estoril, Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg before heading to Paris.
"I am really pleased with the season the way we have planned it and I am looking forward to an exciting year," Federer said.
Federer, who also lost his Australian Open title in 2008 to Novak Djokovic, will start the new year in Doha before exhibition events in Abu Dhabi and Kooyong in Melbourne.
He also intends to play for Switzerland in the Davis Cup first round against the United States in March.
-AFP
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