FED BACKS OFF

Roger Federer pulled out of the Paris Masters with a back injury just before his quarter-final against American James Blake on Friday.

"My back has been stiff for the last couple of days and I woke up this morning and it did not respond to the treatment I had last night."

Federer's withdrawal means the Swiss has failed to win a regular Masters Series event this year for the first time since 2003.

Federer is next scheduled to play in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, which starts on November 9.