Roger Federer has picked an odd time to begin his offseason.
Tennis.com is reporting that the world's No. 2 player is taking a few days off before the start of the Australian Open on Monday. It's almost as much time off as he's had since the 2014 season ended.
After competing in the ATP World Tour Finals, where a back injury forced him to forfeit the championship match to No. 1 Novak Djokovic in early November, Federer helped Switzerland win the Davis Cup, then traveled to India to participate in the newly created International Tennis Premier League.
He then started 2015 winning the Brisbane International, and then played Lleyton Hewitt in an exhibition to promote "FAST4 Tennis," a sped-up variation of the game designed to attract younger players to the sport.
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It was a busy early season that makes Federer want to recharge already.
"The offseason didn't feel like an offseason, to be quite honest. I'm not saying that to joke around in anyway," he said, according to tennis.com. "I only had eight days off. Went back to practice, I went to India-I mean, it was like one and a half, two days. Went back to practice, practiced with Thanasi (Kokkinakis) in Dubai. Went to Switzerland, played a charity match there with Stan (Wawrinka) for my foundation on the 21st. Then had Christmas at home, which was so nice. Then came back to Dubai, practiced there with (David) Goffin and then came here.
"That's why I'm really looking forward to rest now. It's most important for me to recover now, rather than actually practicing and trying to feel better."
Federer said he feels so much better about his game than he did a year ago when he was still recovering from a back injury that hampered his 2013 season.
It "was different just because I came off a tough 2013, had a new racquet, Stefan Edberg joined the team," Federer said. "I had the back and everything. I played much better than I thought I could and would. So, I feel much better going into the tournament this year."
"But, that doesn't mean a thing," Federer added.
Federer's bashfulness is unwarranted. The Swiss star has reached the semifinals of the Australian Open 11 consecutive years.
So in that regard, it might seem odd that Federer would alter his routine and take time off prior to the first Grand Slam event.
Answers to his questions will begin to take shape in the next two weeks.
What effect will Roger Federer changing his pre-Australian Open routine have on his results in Melbourne? Comment below or tell us @Sports WN.
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