At the age of 38 Roger Federer knows better than anybody that his career as a tennis player is approaching its final stages.
The Swiss Maestro is the second-oldest player in the top 100 after Ivo Karlovic. So far he has won 103 ATP titles, including a record 20 at grand slam level. He has spent 310 weeks as world No.1, won more than 1200 matches on the ATP Tour and has won the ATP Finals more times than any other player in history (six).
Federer’s resume is certainly impressive, but he isn’t finished yet. Once again, he is in the Middle East training ahead of the new season. Currently ranked 3rd in the world, he will be bidding to become the oldest grand slam champion in history at the Australian Open. However, Federer is not exempt from the fact that as he gets older, the sport will take a greater toll on his body. Raising questions about whether his legacy in the sport could be marred by continuing to play at a later age?
“I don’t think the exit (retirement) needs to be that perfect, that you have to win something huge … and you go, ‘OK. I did it all.’ It can be completed a different way, as long as you enjoy it and that’s what matters to you,” Federer told The Associated Press.
“People, I don’t think, anyway, remember what were the last matches of a John McEnroe, what were the last matches of a Stefan Edberg. Nobody knows. They remember that they won Wimbledon, that they won this and that, they were world No. 1. I don’t think the end, per se, is that important.”
Undoubtedly Federer is still a huge driving factor for tennis, which the ATP wants to keep hold of for as long as possible. In his recent South American tour, he set a new world record for the most attended match. In Mexico more than 42,000 spectators turned up to watch his clash with Alexander Zverev.
There is still no indication as to when Federer will walk away from the sport permanently. Leading to continued speculation about if 2020 may potentially be his last on the tour. However, the former world No.1 himself hasn’t outlined his retirement plans yet.
“I mean, I don’t think about it much, to be honest,” he explains. “It’s a bit different (now) that I know I’m at the back end of my career. But I feel like I’ve been toward ‘the back end of my career’ for a long, long time.”
There are still some records Federer is chasing after. He is just six titles away from equalling Jimmy Connors’ record for the most trophies won on the ATP Tour. Meanwhile, next year at the Tokyo Olympic Games he will have a shot of winning an individual gold medal for the first time. Federer won gold in the men’s doubles back in 2008, as well as silver in the singles four years later.
Unlike many of his rivals, Federer will not be starting the new year at the ATP Cup. A team event which has both prize money and ranking points up for grabs. At present, he isn’t down to play a tournament in the lead up to the Australian Open unless he takes a last-minute wild card.
