(FoxNews.com) Roger Federer has ruled himself out of next year’s Australian Open tournament, according to his coach of more than a decade.
“With all due respect, Roger’s main goal is to win the Wimbledon,” Stefan Edberg, who helped Federer to an incredible 19 Grand Slam titles, told German newspaper Bild. “Although he does not need that tournament, he’s going to consider it in order to come back to Australia in a few years. But not next year.”
Federer crashed out of Wimbledon last week to Marin Cilic in the semifinals. It was the fifth straight major title for Cilic, while Federer was trying to tie Jimmy Connors’ all-time record of six Wimbledon championships.
“I think Marin Cilic is capable of beating anyone, no matter who he plays against,” Edberg said. “He is very difficult to play against and really plays with guts.”
Edberg said he believes Federer will climb back into the world top 10 in the fall. Federer has been No. 1 several times in his career. He fell to No. 3 this month, his lowest ranking since 2006.
“I think his ranking could go down again next week or the week after,” Edberg said. “But he will be very strong to get back to the top. He is still a champion in his eyes. And at the end of the day, he wants the trophies, not the rankings.”
Edberg, who won 11 Grand Slams, joins Federer’s co-coach Agassi, as well as Simon Khalil, whom Federer hired before Wimbledon, as members of the Swiss star’s coaching staff.
Edberg told the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger in April that playing in a later-than-usual Wimbledon final — he beat Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets last Sunday — could help the 35-year-old Federer and Cilic prepare for their Nov. 10 match in the U.S. Open final.
“Roger will also bring this extra zest to the match, this extra aggression,” he said. “I think that would work both ways against Marin Cilic.”
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