Friday 30 December 2016 08:33, UK
Roger Federer says there is no reason why he cannot go on playing tennis at the highest level for at least another two or three years.
The 17-time grand slam champion, who is preparing to make his return from injury next week in Perth, explained how his decision to take a six-month break from competitive tennis was made with his long-term future in mind.
Federer recently arrived in Australia to play in next week's Hopman Cup, which will be his first event since Wimbledon.
The 35-year-old has been absent from the world stage since losing to Milos Raonic in the semi-finals at SW19, having earlier missed the French Open because of a back problem.
He also underwent surgery on his left knee in February, before deciding he needed extensive rehabilitation and would be sidelined for the rest of the season.
But the Swiss star is only looking ahead: "I don't see it like this, that this could be my last Australian trip, even though it might very well be.
"I'm really positive. I took these six months off so I would be playing for hopefully another two to three years, not just another six months or so. So my mindset is for the long-term.
"I'm really positive about how I'm feeling right now, and practice is going well.
"Expectations are low because I don't have the matches yet and it's going to be best-of-five from the get-go at the Australian Open.
"But I'm happy I've got the Hopman Cup first and I've got my three matches there to ease my way in."
The Hopman Cup is a team event, with each match featuring one men's singles, one women's singles and a mixed doubles, with Federer representing Switzerland alongside Belinda Bencic.
Federer will open his account on Monday, when Switzerland take on Great Britain who are represented by world No 66 Dan Evans and Heather Watson (76).
Hopman Cup combinations:
Australia: Nick Kyrgios/Daria Gavrilova
Czech Republic: Adam Pavlasek/Lucie Hradecka
France: Richard Gasquet/Kristina Mladenovic
Germany: Alexander Zverev/Andrea Petkovic
Great Britain: Dan Evans/Heather Watson
Spain: Feliciano Lopez/Lara Arruabarrena
Switzerland: Roger Federer/Belinda Bencic
USA: Jack Sock/Coco Vandeweghe
The tournament starts on January 1.
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