Federer to play Rome, Raonic leads withdrawals

Roger Federer appears set to play this week's Rome Masters following his second-round exit in Madrid, while Milos Raonic, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, and Vasek Pospisil are among those who have withdrawn from the tournament.

Federer is still in the draw as the second seed and was said to have confirmed his participation. He had previously said he would decide whether to play depending on how his previous tournaments went; his opening-round loss in Madrid suggests that he’d like additional matches before Roland Garros.

Both Canadians Raonic and Pospisil are not playing because of foot problems, with Pospisil experiencing an ankle injury during his doubles match with Jack Sock as both players went for a ball. Sock is playing doubles with Nick Krygios in Rome.

Raonic experienced a recurrence of the nerve problem that led him to retire at Monte Carlo and says he will undergo surgery.

Monfils is also not entered in the draw, having appeared to be dealing with knee problems in a three-hour, twenty-minute match at Madrid. Verdasco, who reached the third round of Madrid, said, "maybe I had a few physical problems" in his defeat to David Ferrer.

Novak Djokovic, who did not play Madrid, leads the field in Rome next week.