GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Roger Federer said Friday he will not compete next week when Switzerland plays an opening-round Davis Cup tie against Australia.
He confirmed his decision in a statement from Geneva.
The 24-year-old Federer is fresh off his seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, and winning tournaments has become almost routine for him. He has won three straight events and seven of the last 11 major tournaments.
Federer, who has held the No. 1 ranking for an unprecedented 104 straight weeks, said he will also skip the tournament in Rotterdam later this month.
If he changes his mind about Davis Cup, Switzerland captain Severin Luthi has until one hour before the draw next Thursday to finalize his team.
World No. 5 Lleyton Hewitt said last month he would not participate in the Davis Cup for his native Australia.
