Tennis: Federer and Nadal among Paris absentees

PARIS - World tennis No.1 Roger Federer and French Open champion Rafael Nadal are among five players who have pulled out next week's Paris Masters, organisers said today.

Switzerland's Federer, winner of 11 titles in 2005 including four Masters Series events, is sidelined with a torn ligament in his right ankle.

Spaniard Nadal, who captured his 11th trophy of the year on Sunday at the Madrid Masters, is nursing a knee injury.

Other high profile absentees include defending champion Marat Safin, with a strained tendon in his knee, Andre Agassi and former French Open winner Carlos Moya.

- REUTERS