For Roger Federer, no retirement in sight: "I'm sure I'll notice when the time comes"

Roger Federer is staying the course. At the age of 40 and still recovering from a third knee operation, the Swiss tennis player has no plans to end his career, as he told Blick in an interview. The former world number one has not played since his quarter-final loss to Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon.

Roger Federer may be 40 years old, he may have played only 13 matches this season and he may be nursing a third knee operation, but it is still not time to talk about retirement. While he continues to rehabilitate and has not set a return date for the time being, the Swiss player suggested that he still has no intention of putting away his racket.

"The best possible end to my career? That doesn't exist for me," he said in an interview with Swiss media outlet Blick. But I would like to be able to choose the moment myself. I'm sure I'll notice when that time comes." Since announcing that he would have to undergo another surgery, the third in just under two years, the former world number one has always felt capable of returning to the level and the courts.

For all that, if he continues to put it off, it's certainly not out of apprehension. "I'm not afraid of the time after my professional career," he assured. It will be a smooth transition. Mirka and I have done an incredible job of balancing tennis, family and friends, which almost makes me the proudest. After all, what's really important in life?" Clearly, Federer still plans to juggle all three parts of his life.