PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- World No. 3 Andy Roddick, blaming a lower back injury, announced Tuesday that he will not play in the upcoming Tennis Masters Cup.
Roddick is the second player to withdraw from the circuit's season-ending event, which begins Sunday in Shanghai. Two-time event champion Lleyton Hewitt pulled out earlier in the week to be with his wife Bec Cartwright, who is expecting the couple's first child.
"Though I have tried to continue with practice, the lower back spasms continue," said Roddick. "After being evaluated by medical staff upon my return to the United States, it is now clear that I am not able to resume tennis activities for 10-14 days."
David Nalbandian will take Roddick's spot in the eight-man field, which also includes Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Guillermo Coria, Nikolay Davydenko, Ivan Ljubicic and Gaston Gaudio. Gaudio qualified in Hewitt's absence.
