MELBOURNE — Australian Open champion Roger Federer is set to continue defying Father Time after announcing he will return to defend his title next year, the Swiss said on Monday.
The 36-year-old notched up his 20th grand slam title and sixth at Melbourne Park on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Croatia鈥檚 Marin Cilic, but initially forgot to say whether or not he planned to defend the title.
鈥淵eah, I鈥檇 love to come back. I know I forgot to say that after the match,鈥 a bleary-eyed Federer told reporters on Monday. 鈥淏ut I hope I come back again next year.鈥
Federer equaled the record of six Australian Open men鈥檚 titles, held by Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson, and emulated Ken Rosewall鈥檚 feat of claiming three grand slam titles after the age of 35.
His longevity has in part been put down to the careful management of his playing schedule.
Despite being fully fit, he skipped the entire claycourt season last year to concentrate on Wimbledon, a decision that paid off with his eighth title on the southwest London grass courts.
He reiterated on Monday that he would continue to manage his schedule tightly and despite being within sight of the world鈥檚 top ranking, a decision on whether or not his next tournament would be in Dubai in late February had yet to be made.
鈥淲e were in talks with them (Dubai organizers) but when the (Australian Open) tournament started, I just said 鈥榣ook, if it鈥檚 okay, I鈥檇 like to decide after the tournament,鈥欌 he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 an ideal scenario for me. After the tournament, I鈥檒l know how I feel… did I come out injured or not?
鈥淪o now we know what the situation is.
鈥淚 also have to decide on the claycourt season so all these things are kind of interlinked.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 possible I鈥檒l play something, but it鈥檚 also possible that maybe I just don鈥檛 play anything (for a while).鈥
MORE SURREAL
Federer said he would make the decision about his schedule after spending some time with family at home in Switzerland, where he hoped the fact he had won the Australian Open title again would finally sink in.
鈥淭his year seems more surreal, I can鈥檛 believe I was able to defend my title after all these years, that I could do it again,鈥 he said. 鈥淭o reach number 20, number six here, it鈥檚 just a lot trying to take it in.
鈥淟ast year was a lot more straightforward, just disbelief that I won and there I was waking up with the trophy.
鈥淏ut, I don鈥檛 know, this year feels more surreal. I can鈥檛 believe that I was able to defend my title, that after all these years I could do it again.
鈥淚t鈥檚 super special, one of the great moments in my career, and maybe this one is going to take longer to sink in.鈥
Age-defying Roger Federer says after winning his third Grand Slam title in a year he has no idea how long he will continue playing.
The 36-year-old Swiss marvel continues to defy the years and attrition rate, reaching his 30th Grand Slam decider and claiming his sixth Australian crown and 20th Grand Slam title.
Federer, who downed great rival Rafael Nadal in a classic five-set Australian final last year, eased through this year鈥檚 event with five of his seven matches finishing on or under two hours and he spent just a total of 13 hours and 53 minutes on court.
Asked after his Melbourne triumph how much longer he can continue at the summit of men鈥檚 tennis, he replied: 鈥淣o idea. Honest, I don鈥檛 know. I have no idea.
鈥淚鈥檝e won three slams now in 12 months. I can鈥檛 believe it myself. I just got to keep a good schedule, stay hungry, then maybe good things can happen.鈥
Federer said his age didn鈥檛 come into it when questions were raised about his continuing longevity.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think age is an issue, it鈥檚 just a number,鈥 he said.
鈥淏ut I need to be very careful in my planning, really decide beforehand what are my goals, what are my priorities.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to dictate how successful I will be.鈥
But he added: 鈥淓xciting times ahead. As a professional, it鈥檚 what we do. But I鈥檓 happy I鈥檓 in that position right now.鈥 — AFP/Reuters
