Roger Federer got a taste of life after tennis this season.

The experience made Federer—and his family—hungry to return to the tour.

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The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who underwent athroscopic surgery on his left knee on February 3rd, was limited to seven tournaments this year.

Time off the tour gave Federer quality time with his family—and reinforced his desire to return in 2017.

“I think it was really exciting and good for us to have that time,” Federer said in a new interview with The New York Times. “It felt good, you know? It did feel good but (retirement) can totally wait. No problem for me, it can totally wait.

“I did get that taste of retirement. All of a sudden I could be organised and say 'OK we're going to be four weeks at home in a row in the same place. Who do you want to go to dinner with Mirka? Or who shall we catch up with?'”

Federer, who fought off three match points fighting past Marin Cilic to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, said he’s eager to return. He will partner Belinda Bencic on the Swiss team at the Hopman Cup in Perth next month.

"Mirka is totally committed, totally happy,” Federer said. “The kids love it and I'm still hungry and now I'm even refreshed and rejuvenated. The kids were asking "When are we leaving again?"'

The 35-year-old Swiss called Andy Murray’s late-season surge to clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking “extraordinary.”

“Novak, let's be honest, actually didn't play too badly in the second half,” Federer said. “He won Toronto, he played in the finals of other tournaments—US Open, World Tour Finals. You would think that's going to be enough, but what it required was something extraordinary, and Murray was able to deliver that, and that's where I take my hat off.”

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