AFP
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 18: Roger Federer plans to regain the number one ranking next year and surpass Pete Sampras's Grand Slam record, but says winning Wimbledon is his top priority.
The Swiss great is winding down his season with an exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday against James Blake, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg but is already thinking about next year, and insisted retirement was not on the horizon.
"For next year, I guess it goes hand-in-hand a little bit, winning Grand Slams and getting the number one ranking back," he said here.
"First of all, I'm looking forward to some rest after what has been a long and tough year for all the players on the Tour and then I'd like to prepare as well as I can and get ready for next year.
"Then I'll take it step by step. Of course, I'd love to win the Australian Open to start off the year, but many guys want the same thing so it won't be easy."
Federer could equal Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles if he wins in Melbourne in January.
But Wimbledon is his clear priority.
Asked what was more important, regaining the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal or winning the grass court championships for a sixth time, he emphatically nominated Wimbledon.
"I'd take Wimbledon any day in front of my number one rank," he said.
"It's a good problem to have, but I love Wimbledon. It's opened my eyes, to play at Wimbledon as a junior and to be part of tradition and a part of history. I've really enjoyed it and it's been such an honour."
Federer, now 27, has had a tough season, losing his top spot after 237 weeks and seeing his five-year Wimbledon winning streak snapped by Rafael Nadal.
"I think it is going to be an interesting year ahead for me, because I think next year will be a much better scheduling year for everybody," he said.
"This year the travel was pretty gruelling and I think next year is going to be better so I'm looking forward to that."
Asked what he would do when he retires, the Swiss star admitted he was thinking about his post-tennis life a lot more now, but said he was not ready to hang up his racquet in the foreseeable future.
"I don't know what I am going to do after my tennis career. It's not going to happen anytime soon because I want to play for many years to come," he said.
"But I'm definitely thinking more about the future than I used to. Before it was all about the present, trying to deal with the stress of the tour, but today I can enjoy tennis more.
"After tennis is over, I guess you always want to stay in the sport in some way but I'd also like to spend more time with my foundation, the projects I support.
"And I have long relationships with some of my sponsors, so maybe that is something that is going to carry through. I'm looking forward to what's next."