DPA/Dubai


Roger Federer has unveiled his 2016 Olympic year schedule, with the world number three set to legally skip four straight Masters 1000 dates as he points his campaign towards the Rio Games in August.
The 34-year-old enjoys an exemption from various ATP commitments based on his age, the fact that he has won 600 career matches and has a career which has spanned more than a dozen years.
The 17-time grand slam winner released his 2016 calendar on his webpage and looks to be taking full advantage of all options as he skips spring Masters 1000 dates in Miami in March and April-May clay tournaments in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid.
That gap amounts to a two-month break from tournament play.
The Swiss has added Stuttgart grass to his schedule immediately after the French Open, combining that new German date with his traditional entry at Halle.
After Wimbledon, he takes a month off before playing Toronto Masters hardcourt prior to a run which includes the Rio Games, Cincinnati and the US Open.
His autumn commitments are limited to Shanghai, his home event at Basel and the Paris Masters before presumably also competing in the year-end championships in London.
The well-planned Swiss is noted for building training blocks into his calendars and is not shy about taking the time off he needs for family holidays and other down time.
Federer will begins 2016 in early January at Brisbane, his preparation for the Australian Open. He has also added a return to Rotterdam in February to his calendar prior to play his usual date in Dubai, his training base.