Having won the three biggest tournaments played this season, in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami, Roger Federer is looking ahead and says he will concentrate on grass and hardcourt tournaments as opposed to those on clay.
After defeating Rafael Nadal to win Miami, Federer told ESPN in a courtside interview that he would "probably won't play any" of the clay-court tournaments "except the French."
In a press conference after the match, Federer said he wanted to take a break to recover physically and mentally and to be with his family. He is 19-1 since returning from an injury layoff.
Rather than play a full clay season on what has traditionally been his least successful surface, Federer said he would put most of his attention on the second half of the season.
"Wimbledon has to be the biggest goal," he said. "The American hard courts I guess as well. The French Open I guess to some extent. It's just we'll see what happens, you know. No pressure there really because I won't have a preparation as such.
"But all of the grass really is important to me because I'll play Stuttgart and Halle there, too. Then of course I am looking very good for the World Tour Finals, for the year-end championships, where I've been very successful. I like the indoors as well. So for me basically the second half of the season is a big priority now. That's why I'll take a break as well."
Federer repeated that he is currently scheduled not to play before the French Open, but added that he would "see how all of the buildup is going to go."
But regardless of his schedule, Federer is determined to keep the refreshed mentality and attacking mindset that he has used so successfully in his comeback.
"I think that the way I'm playing right now is the right way for me moving forward as well,” said Federer. "Of course I'll always recalibrate every tournament I go to depending on the speed of the ball, the speed of the courts, who I play. I'm happy that I was able to stay on the offensive more or less throughout this swing here, Indian Wells and Miami. I think once you win a big tournament like the Australian Open, or any big tournament for that matter, you can just bank usually on some confidence, you know.
"I think I am definitely profiting from confidence, and then also from the right mindset, able to compress all my energy into one single match and not be distracted by everything else going on around me."
