Roger Federer: Knocked out at the semi-final stage
Roger Federer: Knocked out at the semi-final stage

ATP Finals: Roger Federer 'extremely happy' with 'amazing year' despite David Goffin loss


by Andy Schooler, at The O2

Roger Federer says he is “extremely happy” with “an amazing year”, despite it ending on a low note at the ATP Finals.

The Swiss superstar, who captured both the Wimbledon and Australian Open titles in 2017 to take his Grand Slam tally to a record 19, was upset by David Goffin in the semi-finals in London on Saturday.

But afterwards he refused to let that setback, only his fifth loss of the season, take the shine off things and said he “couldn’t wait” to return to action in Australia at the end of the year when his new campaign will begin.

Roger Federer: Wimbledon champion for an eighth time
Roger Federer: Won Wimbledon for the eighth time in his career in July

“It's been an amazing year for me,” he reflected. “(I’ve) been so happy that I was playing at this level from the beginning until basically the end.

“So it's been great. (I’ve) really enjoyed myself in the process.

“It's kind of disappointing to finish on this note. But whatever happened today is less important than if I look at the entire season. With that season, I'm extremely happy.”

Federer’s success this season was largely unexpected since he missed the second half of 2016 with a knee injury, not playing for six months, and seeing his world ranking drop to 17.

Now 36, Federer knows he will be unable to prepare for next season as he did 12 months ago. On that occasion, he was hitting balls in pre-season for six weeks. This time around, his entire off-season will last that amount of time – a period he will start by taking a two-week holiday with his family.

“Clearly the build-up is not going to be six months like it was last time around. It's not going to be six weeks of tennis. It's just going to be two, three weeks. It's going to be short.

“But I did that 15 years previously, so I know how to handle the build-up.

“I'm just looking forward to some time off now, away from the match court, away from the pressure, then hopefully play well in Australia.

“I had the best time of my life this year, so can't wait to go back there.”

Federer’s first tournament of the 2018 season will be the Hopman Cup in Perth - the same one he began this campaign with. His opening match will actually take place on December 30 against Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.

He is also due to face Jack Sock and Karen Khachanov in the mixed team event, where he will also play three mixed doubles matches alongside compatriot Belinda Bencic.

From there he will head to Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open which begins on January 15.

Federer is currently Sky Bet's 11/4 joint favourite to win the Australian Open, alongside Rafael Nadal.

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