But unlike most, the father-of-four has the 2017 holidays on his mind - on the eve of the tennis season when he will turn 36.
It
is an age few reach while still on tour. Yet the player who beat Rafael
Nadal in three sets to take the Swiss Indoors title on Sunday seemed
far from retirement.
''I'm thinking way ahead,'' said the Swiss great.
Why wouldn't he? At 34, the numbers for his season speak of a player in top form and fitness.
A 58-9 record going into this
week's Paris Masters, including six titles and two Grand Slam finals.
Only Novak Djokovic in his career-best year has beaten Federer in tournament final, including denying him a record-extending 18th major
title at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Expert managing of his schedule,
including a family vacation in September, has kept him sharp when
others - including his younger self, he says - are worn down in
November.
''That is the goal
with having the time off with the kids, with my wife,'' said Federer,
whose family - wife Mirka, their 6-year-old twin girls Myla Rose and
Charlene Riva, and 18-month-old twin boys Leo and Lenny - often join him
on tour.
''The sneak attack is a fun thing for me to do,'' he said. ''How many times can you hit a slice and be excited about it?
''Sometimes
you have got to just do something a bit different. Just be young in
your mind and say, 'Just go for it. Who cares?''
Fun-seeking
is also why Federer says he will play into December in the
International Premier Tennis League at places like India, Singapore and
Dubai, where he has a home.
For now, Federer enjoys his tennis too much to think too deeply about stopping.
''As
long as I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet, I've got to keep a
schedule as well which I feel like I'm playing for many more years to
come,'' he said.
Federer previously said he will not announce a long-term plan to end his career, so avoiding a farewell tour.
''I
hope it's going to come gradually and that I will know when the right
time is,'' he said. ''But I don't want to think about it too much.
''If
you get injured then it comes more slowly but the mind could all of a
sudden go, pfft, that's it. Who knows? If there's a thing with family
that is just so much more important than playing tennis.''
He is sure that, as with his Christmas 2016 plans, parents and family will be part of the retirement conversation.
''I
would let them know about it rather than saying I've taken the decision
already,'' Federer said. ''I would probably ask them, 'Do you think
this is a good idea?'
''Everybody will agree with me at that point anyway. But we're not there yet.''
Date: 2nd November 2015, Source: AP
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