Tages Anzeiger had a long and interesting interview with Roger Federer in Mallorca after the inauguration of the Nadal Academy. ´Life is beautiful also without tennis, I always thought so,' said Federer, who chose to not play any tournament after Wimbledon to give his knee more time to heal. 'But I have the feeling it´s something new for me.

I have never been in this situation. On Tuesday, I met Pierre (Paganini, his fitness trainer) and I told him that I would be going to Mallorca. I asked him, 'How do you see me? He said, I don´t see you depressed or sad.' As a matter of fact the disappointment of withdrawing from French Open and Olympics lasted three days.

Not playing Roland Garros has been harder.´ Federer went through a very difficult season, first the knee surgery in February, then the back injury in May and then the decision of shutting down the season. Which was the toughest moment? ´The one between Rome and Wimbledon because I understood that there was something wrong with my knee.

I understood I was not playing well, I wasn´t improving, I wasn´t well prepared for Wimbledon. But when I decided to shut down my season it was all easier. I had much time. And I also liked that I had to plan: where do I practice, how and with who? I had to plan so many things.´ Federer´s retirement is still far away.

He turned 35 but does not want to stop, and according to some sources, he already projected his 2018 US Open outfit. Asked if 2017 will be his last season, Roger replied, ´It depends from which prospective you are looking at it. I expect to play well not only for a tournament or match, otherwise I would have not stopped for a such long time.

When I decided to skip Olympics I told myself it was good for my body, maybe also for my post-career life. Stopping for a such long time after 20 years of tennis cannot be anything but positive. Playing in 2018? It´s a year away but I clearly still hope to play.

But first of all I have to keep calm and play these four tournaments: Hopman Cup, Australian Open, Dubai and Indian Wells. Retirement is still far away, I only hope that I will decide it and not my body.´ Federer is getting better and better, but does not want rush in.

´I am practicing well, we are going step by step although we could do more. We are practicing 90 minutes per day and I am almost 100%. Now we will increase the intensity both in the gym and on the tennis court. By next week Ivan (Ljubicic) will be there as well.

In the last two months I played less tennis, maybe ten or twelve times and three times I played more than an hour. For the rest, half an hour and sometimes hitting against the wall. I did not want to take risks after all the physical practice I did.´ Federer is not competing but watches the competition: ´I often check the results, Marco Chiudinelli´s on Challenger Tour.

I thought it would not be like this and instead I am too much interested in tennis.´ The age is just a number for Roger. ´It can be a positive factor. I have always tried to have a mix of experience and youngness mentally, being open to new ideas, to reinvent myself.´ Asked if he intended to open an academy like Nadal, he said, ´I received several offers to do something but it´s difficult to do it in Switzerland because it would go against the Federation. He finally revealed an interesting opinion about two of his biggest rivals, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic, who played the US Open final against each other. ´I did not think Wawrinka could win.

Not for something against him but because I thought it was impossible for Djokovic to lose US Open final. Novak is going through a crisis, and it surprised me. I expected him to win an important tournament after Roland Garros, Toronto aside.

But once you realize Career Grand Slam, a new career begins. You have to ask yourself: why do I keep playing? You have to change your mentality: what are your goals? Sometimes it requires a week, sometimes a month, a year or you do not find the right feeling anymore.

But it´s not that Djokovic played bad. And until he continues to play, he will win because he is just too good.´ Federer who practiced with Wawrinka on Thursday in Geneva: