"I knew my knee surgery and recovery would be a long process but the operation was necessary, I hope to be able to get back into Laver Cup in September" - Roger Federer

Roger Federer has all but confirmed that the Laver Cup will be his first tournament back after recovering from a persistent knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines for almost a year.

In a recent interview with Swiss weekly Coopzeitung, the 20-time Grand Slam champion put an end to the speculation over when he would make his return, stating that the plan, as of now, is to get in shape to participate in the team event in September.

The 2022 edition of the Laver Cup is scheduled to take place from 23-25 September in London, where the former World No. 1 will be representing Team Europe alongside Rafael Nadal and other top players.

While the 40-year-old admitted that he knew rehabbing his knee would be an arduous process, he remarked that he had no option but to go ahead with surgery in order to prolong his career.

"I knew [my knee surgery and recovery] would be a long process but the operation was necessary, I couldn't have played like this after Wimbledon. Now I hope to be able to get back into the Laver Cup in September," Federer said.

The Swiss also opened up about lighter topics such as his post-recovery vacation plans, revealing that he wished to take up skiing once more. Although the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he wanted to go golfing as well, he was worried that it might be too hard on his back.

"When I recover, I'll go skiing, of course. Maybe I'll go golfing again, that wasn't possible in the last few years. Not now with my knee anyway, and as is well known, I used to suffer from back problems," Federer said. "Once I went to a round of golf with my mother for her 60th birthday and I really wanted to play along. After that, I suffered from back pain for a week. So I let it go from there. If I start golfing, I won't do it alone, but together with Mirka."

"I won't play 20 tournaments a year like I used to, my program will be manageable" - Roger Federer on his tennis schedule once he is back in action

Roger Federer reckons he won't be playing 20 tournaments a year like he used to before

During the interview, Roger Federer also touched on how he plans to curate his tennis schedule once he is back in action. The 40-year-old made it clear that he would not be playing as many tournaments as he used to in his early days, instead competing only in those he considers important.

"[Whether my family will travel with me again for tennis tournaments] is a problem that I would really like to have. Because that would mean that everything is going well with the knee and the comeback," Federer said. "The advantage is that I won't play 20 tournaments a year like I used to. My program will be manageable, and that's why I'll say: sometimes they'll be there, sometimes they won't."

This means he the Swiss is unsure whether he can have his family accompany him to all tournaments in his schedule.

However, considering that it would help his children meet many of their friends, the 20-time Grand Slam champion remarked that he has to give the issue more thought.

"For a week in Shanghai or Indian Wells the effort is certainly too great. But I also know that my children would be happy to see certain places again, because that's where we meet our friends every year," Federer said.