LONDON (Dispatches) - Roger Federer is unlikely to play in next year’s Australian Open as he recovers from injury.
However, his coach Ivan Ljubicic says the 20-time Grand Slam champion is still determined to return to tournament action at some point.
Swiss Federer, 40, has not played since losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July and having more knee surgery.
“I think the Australian Open is not a real possibility right now,” Ljubicic told Stats Perform.
“I think there are very few chances, he is still recovering and knowing him, he wants to be sure he can play to win the tournament and be at 100%.
“He will go step by step because he is 40 years old now and he needs to be patient. He cannot recover as quickly as he used to.”
Ljubicic, a former world number three, said he was certain that Federer was not thinking about retiring just yet.