Anxiety surrounding Roger Federer’s retirement plans has been eased after the 35-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Swiss Indoors Open.
In accordance with his new contract, Federer will appear at the Basel tournament every year until at least 2019, unless he is ill or injured. The means that the 18-time grand slam champion is set to play tennis until he is 38-years-old. Currently Radek Stepanek is the only player of that aged ranked in the top 100 on the Emirates rankings at 98th in the world.
“I can not wait to go back to my home in the fall. Playing in Basel is always a highlight of the year.” Federer told Blick News.
Federer has become the master of the Basel tournament, breaking numerous records at the event. Since making his debut against Andre Agassi in 1998, Federer has won the title a record seven times (2006-2008, 2010-2011, 2014 and 2015). He has also played in the Basel final 12 times, including every edition between 2006-2015.
The president of the Swiss Indoors committee, Roger Brennwald, has hailed the signing of the new contract. Speaking about Federer, Brennwald said he was looking forward to welcoming the 35-year-old back to the event after he missed last year due to a knee injury.
“We are in the privileged position to bind Roger Federer to our tournament for three more years.” He said.
This year’s Swiss Indoors tournament will take place in October between 21st-29th.
Missing half the season in 2016 due to injury, Federer staged a fairytale return to the tour in January by winning his 18th major title at the Australian Open, defeating Rafael Nadal in five sets during the final. At the tournament he proved that age wasn’t an issue as he disposed of four top-10 players – Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka and Nadal.
Federer will return to the tour next week at the Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, a tournament which he has also won seven times in the past. This year the Swiss will be seeded third behind Andy Murray and Wawrinka.
