By Richard Pagliaro | Friday December 30, 2016
“I’m really positive. I took these six months off so I would be playing for hopefully another two to three years, not just another six months or so," said Roger Federer.
Photo credit: MasterCard Hopman Cup Facebook
Returning rather than retiring is foremost on Roger Federer’s mind these days.
The 35-year-old Federer took a trip to Cottesloe beach in Perth and said he’s intent on riding the competitive wave for a few more years.
Watch: Champions Name Greatest Of All Time
Confronted with the question of career mortality ahead of his Hopman Cup return in Perth, the Grand Slam king says he plans to play another two to three years.
“Only when I get asked do I think of things like this,” said Federer in comments published by the AP. “I don’t see it like this, that this could be my last Australian trip, even though it might very well be.
“I’m really positive. I took these six months off so I would be playing for hopefully another two to three years, not just another six months or so. So my mindset is for the long term.”
The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on February 3rd, was limited to seven tournaments this year. Federer pulled the plug on his 2016 season after falling to Milos Raonic in five sets in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Life on the pro circuit isn't exactly a day at the beach for a 35-year-old veteran who hasn’t won a Grand Slam title since the 2012 Wimbledon and is coming off the first major surgery of his career.
Earlier this month, Hall of Famer John McEnroe praised Federer as the Greatest Of All Time, but also predicted both Federer and rival Rafael Nadal are “at the end” of their careers pointing to advancing age and escalating injuries as clear signs their days as elite players are numbered.
“There’s a void that’s about to occur because of what’s happened with (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal,” McEnroe told WFAN’s Marc Malusis. “I mean, they’re at the end, right? You can’t imagine them going on more than a year or two. (Novak) Djokovic (and Andy) Murray are the two best, but they’re not getting younger. I know 29 sounds young, but they’re going to have another couple years, you anticipate.”
Federer, who reached semifinals in both Grand Slams he contested this season, has advanced to at least the Australian Open semifinals in 12 of the last 13 years.
The 16th-ranked Swiss says the pursuit of titles, rather than his place in the rankings, is his primary purpose.
“Winning titles is a beautiful feeling; rankings at the moments ... completely secondary,” Federer said. “As long as I’m healthy and injury free I think I can really do some damage.”
Federer, who partners Belinda Bencic on the Swiss squad, will face Great Britain's Dan Evans in his Hopman Cup return on Monday, January 2nd at 5:30 p.m. local time. His opening Perth practice drew 6,000 enthusiastic fans.
The Swiss maestro said he’s excited to reconnect with crowds in his competitive return.
“For me maybe it’s a bit of a longer stretch I’m coming back from,” Federer said. “It’s just being good at playing in front of people again.”