Tim Henman delivers his verdict on speculation over Roger Federer's injury

Former British tennis star Tim Henman has dismissed speculation that Roger Federer was carrying an injury as he missed a training session ahead of his win over Marin Cilic in the group stages of the ATP World Tour Finals.

Andy Murray's coach Jamie Delgado revealed that it is uncharacteristic of a top player to miss training sessions which could imply that he has sustained an injury. However, Henman insists that for a player late in his career like Federer it is more a ploy to keep himself fresh than anything being wrong with his body.

Federer made it three wins from three in the round robin stage of the season-ending tournament, with a victory over Cilic in straight sets. Before the game, when asked about his preparedness, the Swiss ace said he did not practise on Wednesday, opting to spend the day with his family instead.

The 19-time Grand Slam winner had already made his way into the semis after the second game, which may have encouraged him to take some rest ahead of the knockouts.

"No, definitely not. It shows experience. He doesn't need to practise every day," Henman said, as quoted by the Express.

Federer's biggest takeaway from 2017 was his ability to manage his fitness, which came with playing fewer games and choosing his tournaments prudently. However, he has revealed that he regrets missing out on most of the clay tournaments, which he hopes to rectify next season.

The veteran won seven titles this year, including the Australian Open and a record eighth Wimbledon title to overtake Pete Sampras' seven championship wins. He is well set to claim his eighth title, with only two wins separating him from another title.

Federer had to relinquish the world number one title to Rafael Nadal who confirmed his position for the end of the year by progressing into the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters but had to pull out due to a knee injury.