Roger Federer has announced that he will skip the upcoming European clay court season, including the French Open.
The 36-year-old lost his second consecutive match, and his world number one ranking, on Saturday night at the hands of Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Federer, who fell to Juan Martin del Potro at Indian Wells a week earlier, was defeated by the 175th-ranked Australian at the Miami Open.
The Swiss icon had been the oldest male number one ever, but will lose that spot to Rafael Nadal when the new rankings come out on April 2.
"I deserve it after this match," Federer is quoted by The Guardian as saying. "That's how I feel.
"I decided not to play the clay season. I am trying to figure things out now, I have some time. I'm a positive thinker, every match is another opportunity. You take a break, get away from it all, and get back to practice court and work."
Kokkinakis is the lowest-ranked player to defeat a men's world number one since 178th-ranked Francisco Clavet beat Lleyton Hewitt in Miami in 2003.
Giuseppe Labellarte
