FEDERER HAS NO PLANS TO RETIRE

After eighth Wimbledon title, Swiss star says he could be on the courts until he is 40

BUOYED by his record-setting eighth Wimbledon title, Roger Federer warned rivals yesterday that he could play until he was 40, in a late-life era of supremacy alongside Rafael Nadal.

Federer eased past injury-hit Marin Cilic to become the oldest Wimbledon men’s champion of the modern era on Sunday, breaking the tie for seven All England Club titles he had shared with Pete Sampras since his last triumph in 2012.

It also gave him a 19th grand slam title in his 29th final at the majors.

With his 36th birthday just three weeks away, Federer believes he could still be playing the tournament when he is 40.

Federer, who won his first Wimbledon title in 2003, said: “You would think so, if health permitting and everything is OK.”

His confidence in his longevity is based on the radical transformation he has made to his playing schedule since his semifinal defeat to Milos Raonic at Wimbledon last year.

He immediately shut down his season, missing the Olympics and the US Open, to rest a knee injury.

As a consequence, his world ranking slumped to 17 in January, his lowest since 2000. But the gamble paid off as a rejuvenated Federer won a fifth Australian Open on his return before adding back-to-back Masters at Indian Wells and Miami.

He skipped the clay court season in the knowledge that a fully fit Nadal was always likely to dominate the French Open.

Back on grass, Federer won a ninth Halle title before easing to his stunning Wimbledon landmark.

Wimbledon, where he became the first man to win the trophy without dropping a set since Bjorn Borg in 1976, was only his seventh tournament this year.

By contrast, the unfortunate Cilic was playing his 15th, so it was hardly surprising that wear and tear contributed to his downfall, albeit in the shape of a humble but debilitating blister.

Federer’s match-win record for this year now stands at 31-2.

His appearances on the tour will remain limited.

He hinted he might sit out the Montreal Masters and play only in Cincinnati before an assault on a sixth US Open, where he has not won since 2008.

As always, it is a decision he will make with those closest to him, just as he did when he took his sixmonth break last year.

Federer is also within touching distance of returning to the world No 1 ranking by the end of the year.