Federer says Masters Cup is now his 2005 objective

World number one Roger Federer says winning the season-ending Masters Cup is his 2005 priority after claiming the Wimbledon title for the third year running.

Speaking to Swiss agency ATS from his holiday, Federer denied media reports he was suffering serious foot problems.

He said he would travel to this month's US Open, where he is defending his title, without coach Tony Roche who would rejoin him for the Masters Cup in Shanghai in November.

"I have got lots of goals from here to the end of the season and I'm really looking forward to playing again," said Federer, who has not competed since winning Wimbledon in early July and will return at the Cincinnati Masters in mid-August.

Asked what was his top priority, Federer said: "Possibly the Masters Cup. I don't play often in Asia and I'm looking forward to returning to Shanghai.

"The other tournaments are essential for my ranking and it's often those ones that people remember at the end of your career."

The Swiss said that, on an emotional level, he was looking forward to playing in the Davis Cup play-off against Britain in September.

The winners will retain their place in the elite world group. Federer missed Switzerland's first round defeat by the Netherlands in March.

"(Winning) the Davis Cup remains one of the great goals of my career. At the beginning of every year I analyse my objectives - in 2005 my main goal was to keep my number one ranking.

"One day my priority will be Roland Garros and one day it will be the Davis Cup."

Federer said he had made the right decision not to play in the March tie because of problems with his feet. These problems made him decide to miss the post-Wimbledon Gstaad tournament in Switzerland and the Montreal Masters starting on Monday.

"I went to see a doctor after Wimbledon and the scan confirmed my fears. I had to miss the Canadian tournament to avoid taking any risks.

"The nature of my injury has been exaggerated in the press. I consulted a doctor but there's nothing serious. I don't feel anything anymore."

Federer's tournament plan for the rest of 2005 is: Cincinnati Masters - starts August 15; US Open - starts August 29; Davis Cup - September 23-25; Thailand Open - starts September 26; Madrid Masters - starts October 17; Swiss Indoors - starts October 24; Paris Masters - starts October 31; Masters Cup - November 12.