Notes: Roddick defends Nadal's decision to skip Masters Cup

SHANGHAI, China -- Andy Roddick understands Rafael Nadal's decision not to play at the Masters Cup with the Davis Cup final looming later this month.

"Rafa's earned every right to pick and choose what he wants to prioritize," Roddick said Saturday, dismissing suggestions that the top-ranked Nadal should have tried to play in Shanghai.

"He's also responsible to his teammates and his country," said Roddick, a fixture on the U.S. Davis Cup team.

Nadal defaulted in Paris last week with what he later called tendinitis in his right knee. He then pulled out from the Masters Cup, which normally would have been the end of his season. But Spain plays Argentina in the Davis Cup final the weekend after the Shanghai tournament ends on Nov. 16.

"The organizers are not happy," Novak Djokovic said while adding that Nadal's decision was "totally understandable."

Roger Federer, who reported he will play Davis Cup for Switzerland in at least the first round next year, said that while the fans in Shanghai will miss out on seeing the No. 1 player in action, the Swiss star isn't disappointed. After all, the two players were in different groups for round-robin play and might not have played each other.

"We're not dating," Federer said with a chuckle when asked if he was sorry Nadal isn't here.

Financial fallout

Top tennis players make a good living through tournament winnings and endorsements. That doesn't mean they aren't worried about the global financial crisis.

"Absolutely," Andy Roddick said, pointing out that the U.S. Davis Cup team already has lost one of its top sponsors, AIG, as a result and that players are worried about more fallout.

Roger Federer pointed out one clear effect: fewer journalists have traveled to Shanghai for the Masters Cup as media are getting hurt by a drop in advertising.

"It really affects us all," Federer said. "I hope the tour will be able to find sponsors. I'm very fortunate to have long-term relationships with my sponsors. Four or five are nearly lifetime contracts."

Election watch

All the travel that tennis players do often makes it tough to keep up with what's going on in the rest of the world.

Andy Roddick had a flight from New York to Texas on Tuesday, when Barack Obama won the U.S. presidency over John McCain. When he left, early returns indicated McCain might pull an upset. After Roddick landed three hours later, he called friends and was told Obama had clinched victory.

"It was surreal," Roddick said. "I watched his acceptance speech. He's like a rock star."

With a chance to personally see how the U.S. is perceived in other countries, Roddick said he thinks Obama gives America a new face.

"One of the positives is the way the rest of the world is going to give him a chance," Roddick said. "Now the real job starts for him."