MOSCOW, November 3 - Russian men`s tennis star Marat Safin officially announced Thursday that he would not play in the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, the multi-million dollar circuit-ending championship, due to a knee injury.

Safin qualified for the tournament, an unofficial world championship held by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), along with ATP 2005 race leader Swiss Roger Federer, Spain`s Rafael Nadal, Americans Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, and Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

Three spots in the tournament, instead of two, became vacant after the Safin`s announcement.
sections: Sport, World News