Federer 'definitely' intends to return to ATP Tour in 2023
Roger Federer stopped short of confirming whether he'll play outside of scheduled appearances this year but said he "definitely" intends to return to the ATP Tour in 2023.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined since last year with a knee injury that's taken a protracted period of time to rehabilitate. He hasn't appeared at an ATP Tour event since losing at Wimbledon in July 2021.
"How and where, I don't know yet. But (a 2023 return to the ATP Tour) would be the idea," Federer said, according to Reuters.
Although Federer wouldn't reveal plans outside of competing in the Laver Cup and the Swiss Indoors tournament this year, the 40-year-old's optimistic that those events will benefit his long road to recovery.
"After Basel, the season is over anyway. It's important for me to get fit again so that I can train fully," he said. "Once I've done that, I can choose how many tournaments I play and where.
"The Laver Cup is a good start, I don't have to play five matches in six days. I will have (to) be able to do that in Basel. But I'm hopeful, I've come a long way. I'm not far away."
The Laver Cup will be held in London from September 23 to 25; the Swiss Indoors tournament begins in October.