Roger Federer could play until he’s 40, but still unsure about 2020 Olympics
Roger Federer admits he feels like he “can play forever”, but concedes he is uncertain about competing in next year’s 2020 Olympic Games.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner turned 38 last month and he is still going strong on the ATP Tour as he reached the quarter-final of the US Open with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 demolition of David Goffin.
Federer has in the past said that he is not yet certain when he will hang up his racket and when asked after the Goffin clash if he could play until he is 40, he replied: “It’s not impossible. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that could be possible. But when you feel fully fit like I do right now, you think you can play forever.”
The biggest event on next year’s sporting calendar is the 2020 Games in Tokyo and Federer has previous stated he would like to compete.
However, he is far from certain to play as one of the requirements for qualification is competing in Davis Cup matches.
The Swiss great, who won gold in the doubles at the 2008 Games in Tokyo and silver in the singles at the 2012 London Olympics, hasn’t played in the tournament since 2015.
Although there have been suggestions he could get in via the backdoor.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be playing there just because it’s still a year away,” he said. “Even though the time is slowly coming around for me, in my mind, my team, my family, to find out what’s the best schedule after Wimbledon next year.
“Then I for sure meant also I don’t know exactly the requirements, what it takes with wildcards at the Olympics, all that stuff, as the Davis Cup format also changed, all that stuff.
“As I don’t know if I will be playing, I don’t know the requirements, it was hard to give a proper answer. But needless to say, the Olympics, the ones I played, have always been very memorable, either with carrying the flag, meeting my wife in 2000, winning gold, winning silver.
“Naturally it’s always going to be a possibility for me to play Tokyo if there is an exemption.
“I don’t know if I’m actually going to do it or not because it all depends on family, on scheduling, on body, on future. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
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