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ROGER Federer says he had made serious errors in his planning in a disastrous 2013 campaign but insisted retirement is not on his agenda.
The 17-time grand slam winner has slumped to No7 in the world and eighth in the race for the ATP World Tour Finals, and failed to make a final at any of the four majors, a run of disappointments that has led many to predict the end of the road for the 32-year-old.
The Swiss, who split last week with coach Paul Annacone after more than three years, confessed that he could have done things differently.
“I played matches that I should never have played,” said Federer, ahead of his participation in his home Swiss Indoors event which starts tonight (AEDT).
“I should have left in Indian Wells (last March, with back pain) before the quarter-finals against (Rafael Nadal). This summer, I should not have tried to play on clay in Hamburg and in Gstaad.
“But things always look better in hindsight. I wasn't able to train as I wanted during my seven-week break following Indian Wells. I fell into a negative spiral.”
Despite his wretched year and seeing rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carve up the majors, Federer insists he will keep playing.
“As long as my body and mind is ready to go to travel, I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing. I'm successful. I'll be playing for some time. That hasn't changed due to a tough six months.
“Playing at the Rio Olympics is something I'd like to achieve. That doesn't mean I'm going to end my career there, or earlier or later. It's just an idea.”
Federer pronounced himself ready to battle to earn a place in the season-ending eight-man Tour Finals in London.
The Swiss, who has won the year-ender six times, set out his goals for the final two weeks of the regular season as he prepared for a Monday start at the Swiss Indoors which he has won five times.
“I want to compete for London, but I've got to win matches to get there.
“I need to approach this (goal) in the correct way. But I'm going to give everything I have to get to London.”
With Nadal withdrawing from the Swiss event with fatigue, Federer said his focus was entirely on his first match in Basel (against France's Adrian Mannarino).
With only one trophy in 2013, the season shapes as the worst in more than a decade for the former world No.1.
“I knew my trajectory this season - OK at the beginning, then difficult and not so bad recently. But today I feel ready, physically and mentally. In Basel, I'm playing at home. It's an advantage which I intend to exploit.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...mits-to-mistakes/story-fnbe6xeb-1226743725291
The 17-time grand slam winner has slumped to No7 in the world and eighth in the race for the ATP World Tour Finals, and failed to make a final at any of the four majors, a run of disappointments that has led many to predict the end of the road for the 32-year-old.
The Swiss, who split last week with coach Paul Annacone after more than three years, confessed that he could have done things differently.
“I played matches that I should never have played,” said Federer, ahead of his participation in his home Swiss Indoors event which starts tonight (AEDT).
“I should have left in Indian Wells (last March, with back pain) before the quarter-finals against (Rafael Nadal). This summer, I should not have tried to play on clay in Hamburg and in Gstaad.
“But things always look better in hindsight. I wasn't able to train as I wanted during my seven-week break following Indian Wells. I fell into a negative spiral.”
Despite his wretched year and seeing rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carve up the majors, Federer insists he will keep playing.
“As long as my body and mind is ready to go to travel, I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing. I'm successful. I'll be playing for some time. That hasn't changed due to a tough six months.
“Playing at the Rio Olympics is something I'd like to achieve. That doesn't mean I'm going to end my career there, or earlier or later. It's just an idea.”
Federer pronounced himself ready to battle to earn a place in the season-ending eight-man Tour Finals in London.
The Swiss, who has won the year-ender six times, set out his goals for the final two weeks of the regular season as he prepared for a Monday start at the Swiss Indoors which he has won five times.
“I want to compete for London, but I've got to win matches to get there.
“I need to approach this (goal) in the correct way. But I'm going to give everything I have to get to London.”
With Nadal withdrawing from the Swiss event with fatigue, Federer said his focus was entirely on his first match in Basel (against France's Adrian Mannarino).
With only one trophy in 2013, the season shapes as the worst in more than a decade for the former world No.1.
“I knew my trajectory this season - OK at the beginning, then difficult and not so bad recently. But today I feel ready, physically and mentally. In Basel, I'm playing at home. It's an advantage which I intend to exploit.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...mits-to-mistakes/story-fnbe6xeb-1226743725291
