(AFP) – Oct 2, 2008

STOCKHOLM (AFP) — World number two Roger Federer will take a break from tennis but hopes to return before the end of the year, he told organisers of the Stockholm Open as he announced his withdrawal from next week's tournament.

Federer said in a statement to organisers late Wednesday that "2008 has been a tough year for me as I was always playing catch up after being diagnosed with mononucleosis at the beginning of the year."

"I feel fortunate to be healthy again, but I want to remain at the top of the game for many more years to come and go after the number one ranking again. In order to do that, I need to get a proper rest and get strong again so that I am 100 percent fit for the remainder of the year or next year," he said.

"At this point, I am not sure when I will be ready to play again, but I hope to be back at some point before the end of the year," Federer said.

Roger Federer won his 13th Grand Slam crown and fifth consecutive US Open title last month, after losing this year's Wimbledon and French Open finals and his number one ranking to Spain's Rafael Nadal.

He is due to play in the Madrid Masters later this month, followed by the Swiss Indoors in Basel, the Paris Masters and finally the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

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