Upbeat Roger Federer to reduce schedule

Roger Federer remains upbeat about his prospects in 2015 after admitting that he will play fewer tournaments throughout the year.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion was written off after an injury-plagued 2013 but roared back to form last year despite his advancing years.

At 33, the Swiss ace is past the point where many top stars call time on their career, but he shows no signs of slowing down after winning more matches – 73 – than any other player on the men’s tour in 2014.

The 2012 Wimbledon title remains his last Grand Slam triumph, however, although he came close to another SW19 title last summer before losing in five sets in the final to Novak Djokovic.

Federer will kick off his season on Thursday at the Brisbane International Down Under and confessed that he is eyeing the same success as last year but from a reduced schedule.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to play as much this year,” he told Sky Sports. “I will have to win even more matches because I will most likely play less tournaments – we’re talking a couple here and there.”

And, having been written off many times over the past couple of years, the five-time US Open champion feels there are plenty of positives to take into the new campaign with the way he performed over the second half of last season.

“I can definitely play another good season,” he added. “I finished so strongly in the last six months so there’s no reason to think negatively at this point. At the same time, I know how well prepared all the other players are.”