Roger Federer has been forced to pull out of the ATP Dubai Open due to a lung infection.

Doctors have advised him not to play for 2 weeks, however it could possibly take 6 weeks to recover which would mean missing out on the ATP World Masters at Indian Wells which starts on March 11. 

Federer said he could give no guarantees about playing at Indian Wells but if the infection was treated properly he should be back pretty soon.  

He explained he has been training hard since returning from the Australian Open, but last Wednesday found he couldn't even get up and felt worse the next day. He said he's having difficulty breathing, but he feels fine, just tired and slow. 

His plans to beat last year's Dubai Open champion Novak Djokovic at this year's event will have to be sidelined.