By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday June 11, 2022
Roger Federer tells website Tages Anzeiger that he has plans to play on the ATP Tour in 2023.
Photo Source: AP
Roger Federer has not played competitive tennis since Wimbledon 2021 – and will not compete at the Championships this summer. But the Swiss, who has commitments at Laver Cup and at Basel later in this season, tells Simon Graf of the website Tages Anzeiger, that he is holding out hope for a return to the ATP Tour in 2022.
“Yes, definitely,” Federer said when asked if he wants to return to the tour. “How and where, I don't know yet. But that would be the idea. Definitely.”
The Swiss says a lot will hinge on how he feels when he does take the court at Laver Cup and Basel later this year. He adds that he has come a long way in getting his body closer to full fitness in the meantime.
"I haven't planned more than the Laver Cup and Basel yet,” he said. “After Basel, the season is over anyway. It's important for me to get fit again so that I can train fully. Once I've done that, I can choose how many tournaments I play and where. The Laver Cup is a good start, I don't have to play five matches in six days.”
Federer says he can take things step by step, playing a more exhibition style event at Laver Cup before jumping into an ATP-500 event in Basel, where he is a ten-time champion.
“I will have be able to do that in Basel,” he said. “That's why I have to prepare for it in practice. I'm curious myself what's still to come. But I'm hopeful, I've come a long way. I'm not far away. The next three or four months will be extremely important.”
Federer on Nadal’s Latest Roland-Garros Title
The Swiss also talked publicly about Rafael Nadal’s 14th Roland-Garros title for the first time.
“I didn’t watch the final, I watched the quarter-final (against Djokovic) a bit before I went to sleep,” Federer said. “In general, it’s just unbelievable what Rafa has achieved. The record of Pete Sampras, which I beat, was 14 Grand Slam titles. Now Rafa won the French Open 14 times. That’s unbelievable.
“I was happy for him that he did it again. Hats off to Rafa. After the tenth, eleventh time, I already thought: This can’t be. He keeps raising the bar. It’s gigantic.”