Former world's no.1 Roger Federer has re-arranged his schedule this coming spring, deciding to skip the Miami Masters and withdraw from his tour of duty with the Swiss team in the first round of the Davis Cup to give more time preparing for the clay-court season.

Federer, who is still searching for his 18^th Grand Slam crown after bowing out in the third round of the Australian Open in January, will play in the upcoming Dubai Tennis Championship beginning on February 23 and compete in the Indian Wells Open starting on March 21 before taking a month off.

The Swiss Maestro is expected to be back on April 12 for the Monte Carlo Open, which will commence his clay-court campaign. Federer nearly bagged the Monte Carlo Open last year before he fell short against his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.

The 33-year old Federer will also play in Madrid and Rome before he guns for another shot at the French Open championship in Rolland Garros starting on May 24.

Playing in his 18^th season since turning professional in 1998, Federer is expected to lessen his workload by cutting down the number of tournaments he will be competing this year.

"Roger decided not to play the Davis Cup tie against Belgium in March and he will also skip Miami to give more time to prepare the clay court season," according to Tennis Tonic.

However, his withdrawal from the Swiss men's tennis team competing in the first-round of the Davis Cup against Belgium in March comes as a little bit of a shocker, especially after winning his first Davis Cup title of his career last year.

Still, Federer is out to prove that he's still a force to reckon with in men's tennis despite his advanced age. He has already won his first title of the year by winning the Brisbane International, and he's expected to be in play for more title opportunities this season.