10 January,2014 02:58 AM IST | | AFP
Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer says he feels a return to top form could be months away but he is in good shape for a tilt at the next week’s Australian Open which is held in Melbourne
For the first time in 11 years the 17-time Grand Slam title winner failed to reach the final of any of the four majors in 2013.
Roger Federer serves during a practice session in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP
But rather than contemplate retirement, his response has been to train harder, hire Stefan Edberg as his new coach and experiment with a new larger racquet.
Federer said he was confident he could revive his career, even if it does not happen immediately.
"I trained probably harder than all the guys ranked ahead of me in the off-season, because they went off to play exhibitions, like I did last year," Federer told reporters late on Wednesday after a charity event.
"So that goes with me. I did full-on months, which I haven't done in a long time and my body held up for that. Then I played singles and doubles in Brisbane... I really feel I'm on my way back. Who knows? Maybe I'm playing my very best in March or April is my feeling.
But I still feel there's a lot possible right now." During Wednesday's charity event, Federer traded shots with 75-year-old Australian legend Laver, something he said as a tennis historian was an "absolute dream come true".
He then won a three-setter against French World No 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. "The thrill of holding up a trophy and the thrill of being before match point is an amazing one," Federer said.
"That's probably deep down why I'm playing. But of course there's so many other things I can do at the same time."
