Roger Federer's agent lifts the lid on retirement discussions

Tony Godsick has revealed the conversations he’s had with Roger Federer about retirement.

On Thursday, Federer confirmed his return to the clay court in 2019, a move that many think indicates this is his farewell season.

His long-time agent has since acknowledged that Federer’s career is nearing an end, but says the Swiss legend isn’t quite done.

“I have often asked him how much longer he will continue to play, because I would like to know as his manager, to have an idea, but he does not know it himself,” Godsick he told Swiss publication Tages Anzeiger.

“Roger will continue playing while he is healthy and having fun, and Mirka and the children are happy, that’s the most important thing for him.

“He is undoubtedly on the second nine holes of his career.

“Hopefully not on the 18th hole, but on the 16th or 17th.”

Godsick also speculated about what Federer would do once his career comes to an end.

“He is a dedicated dad and husband who will be happy to be at home, watch the kids doing sports, take them to school and stuff like that,” he said.

“He will deal with his foundation, which will continue to grow.

“He has many long term sponsorship contracts and I imagine he will continue with these and other companies he likes.

“We do not involve his partners in his life but he knows he is a part of these companies and may want to do more for them in the future.”

Federer follows through on clay-court return

Federer’s comeback on clay will feature a return to the Madrid Open for the first time since 2015, it was confirmed on Thursday.

For the last two years, the 37-year-old has chosen to skip the clay-court season completely to preserve energy for tournaments on his preferred surfaces of grass and hard.

But Federer, who indicated in January that he would play at the French Open this year, was announced by the Madrid Open as among those competing at the Caja Magica too.

“Federer is one of the best players in history, it’s no secret,” said Feliciano Lopez, the Madrid Open’s tournament director.

“We are happy because his return to Madrid is a gift for the tournament but above all for the fans, because they will be able to see a player that is unique and unparallelled.”