Roger Federer has assured the ATP website that his January 2017 return scenario is working to plan, with the Swiss icon eager to get back on court after his knee injury disaster of this season.
“My plan for 2017 is to play the Hopman Cup, Australian Open and Dubai and then, of course, there’s going to be a lot of more things coming after that,” Federer confirmed as he lined up his January starting block.
“But for the time being I think that needs to be the focus — that I can return for those three tournaments in great shape. After that I have all of 2017 pretty much mapped out. I know which tournaments I would like to play.”
With precise planning considered one of the strong points which have kept the 35-year-old on top of his game for more than a decade and a half, there looks to be a bit more of the same going on — even stretching into 2018.
“Obviously that’s too far away. I have to see how the body is going to cope with all the matches again. That’s why this preparation over these four, five, six months is really key.
“I believe I can become super strong because I never have six months — usually I only have a month here, sometimes six weeks, sometimes only three weeks. I have a lot to work with right now and I hope to make myself so strong that I have the best chance to play for many more years to come on Tour.”

Djoko pondering his options for playing 2017 Laver Cup
With Federer, a founder through his management company, and Rafael Nadal signed on as an eager participant, Novak Djokovic is currently said to be considering if there if an interest or role for him in next September’s Laver Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event which will stage its inaugural edition in Prague in 12 months.
“I am discussing with my team about my participation ... in that competition next year. If it happens, I will be happy.
“I think Laver Cup is a model that is used already in golf. I think there is the Ryder Cup that has been an example for the Laver Cup, as I understood. It’s great. Ryder Cup has been one of the most successful sports events throughout the history. Why not take that example and try to use it in our own sport? That’s what they’ve done.”