Tennis: Federer plays down strike talk

Federer rubbished suggestions that player power could lead to a strike over the length of the ATP Tour season

LONDON: Roger Federer has rubbished suggestions that player power could lead to a strike over the length of the ATP Tour season. World number three Andy Murray raised the possibility of players going on strike following the recent US Open, which saw a host of withdrawals, while Rafael Nadal also expressed his unhappiness with the gruelling 11-month schedule. In addition, some players have looked exhausted during the season-ending Tour Finals in London this week. However, Federer believes the strike talk is a waste of time. "It was brought up a few months ago, the whole boycott thing. It's nonsense," said Federer. "It's not going to happen any time soon."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.