Federer targeting Australian Open for return

Before suffering a freak meniscus tear while walking with his twin daughters just after the Australian Open in February, Roger Federer had participated in every Grand Slam since the turn of the millennium - a run of 65 straight major tournaments.

With his left knee still not fully healed, Federer has already ruled himself out for the remainder of the season, but he's rehabbing with an eye toward being fully healthy in Melbourne come January.

"I'm working for the Australian Open," Federer told reporters Wednesday. "I'm doing well."

The world No. 4 was speaking in New York - site of the forthcoming US Open - at a promotional event for the inaugural Laver Cup, at which he announced he'll be teaming with Rafael Nadal to play doubles for Team Europe.

"It's painful being here in New York, and it was painful during the Olympics because I love competing," Federer said. "But you can't have it all.

"It was a tough decision to say the least - going out of Rio, the US Open, the World Tour Finals. But in some ways it ended up being a simple decision. Health is my number one thing."

Health had always been practically a given for Federer, who'd never in his career missed a chunk of time or undergone significant surgery. Despite his advanced age, Federer came into the season rightfully feeling good about his chances to win an 18th major, after the back half of 2015 saw him claim a title in Halle, make the Wimbledon final, win the Cincinnati Masters without dropping a set, romp to the US Open final, win a title in his native Basel, and go undefeated on his way to the championship match at the World Tour Finals (where he lost to Novak Djokovic).

Even as things came apart for Federer in 2016, he still made the semis at the only two majors he played, and was a set away from cracking his third straight final at Wimbledon.

"I never thought I'd have a year like this," Federer said. "I've learned a lot from this year."

Here's hoping he'll get a chance to apply those lessons in 2017.