Federer only planning until Wimbledon amid Olympics uncertainty
Olympic singles gold is the only major title evading Roger Federer, but his plans only go as far as Wimbledon in 2020.
Roger Federer has planned his schedule up until next year’s Wimbledon and within a month intends to make a decision on playing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Olympic singles gold is the only major title to have evaded Federer during his illustrious career, having gone closest when he lost in the final to Andy Murray at London 2012.
The 20-time major champion triumphed in the men’s doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka four years prior in Beijing, but he was forced to sit out Rio 2016 due to a knee injury.
Federer is hopeful of having another shot at Olympic singles success but for now is only looking as far ahead as next year’s Wimbledon.
“I’m very excited about the prospect of maybe playing the Olympic Games, but I’m not quite sure yet,” said Federer, who is in Geneva ahead of the Laver Cup.
“My planning goes until Wimbledon next year which is a couple of weeks before the Olympics, so I guess I’m going to be deciding on the Olympic Games in the next few weeks, hopefully the next month or so.
“It’s been such a special event for me over the years. Me and my wife in 2000 carrying the flag in Athens and Beijing for the Swiss Olympic delegation which was a huge dream for me come true.
“Winning doubles gold with Stan Wawrinka in Beijing then getting the silver in London, at Wimbledon.
“So for me, maybe to be part of it again would be great, especially after missing the last edition in Rio because of a knee injury, but I’ll just have to see how my family is doing, how my body is doing, and then if everything is green and I really feel it’s the right thing to do, I’ll play it, otherwise I’ll skip it but it would definitely be a nice challenge, I admit.”
Happy to be back on Twitter. #itsbeenawhile
Happy to back in Geneva. ??#happy Happy to be back @LaverCup #finally pic.twitter.com/qPUMzrMUUN— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 17, 2019
Federer played the clay-court season for the first time since 2016 this year and reached the semi-finals of the French Open, where he lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
Asked if he will return to the red dirt in 2020, Federer said: “I have decided for myself, but must think about when I announce it.”
