Rome, Italy (Sports Network) - World No. 1 Roger Federer announced Saturday that he has withdrawn from the upcoming Telecom Italia Masters Roma due to plantar fascitis in both feet.
Federer, who is a sizzling 35-2 with five singles titles in 2005, submitted a medical form to the ATP to verify his injury.
The Swiss star has not played since dropping a three-set decision to rising Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals at the Monte Carlo Masters on April 15. The setback snapped Federer's streak of 25 consecutive match wins, which was the longest string on the ATP since the 1984 season.
Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who is ranked second in the world, had already pulled out of the event with a toe injury that has plagued him since early March.
With the defections of both Federer and Hewitt, American Andy Roddick will now assume the No. 1 seed and Russian Marat Safin will be seeded second in the tournament, which gets underway on Monday.
This Masters Series event serves as one of the major tuneups for the French Open.
04/30 10:00:36 ET
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