Andre Agassi believes Roger Federer can decide for retirement without any pressure because of the Swiss Maestro's unique place in tennis history.
Federer, one of the greatest to play the sport, could still be far from the end of his illustrious career. Seeing the Swiss walk away from tennis would make it difficult for many to accept, but former world No. 1 Agassi is convinced there won't be any pressure whatsoever for Federer in deciding when to call it quits.
"Federer is Federer. He is unique. He is magical. He can retire when he wants because he will still be Federer. He can decide without any pressure," Agassi told La Gazzetta delllo Sport as translated by Tennis World USA.
There is no denying Federer's greatness in the field of tennis. Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, has already etched his name in the history books, breaking records after records and has won not only titles, but also the heart of many fans around the world.
Surely, people would get to see Federer for a couple more years, with the Swiss confirming to have already set his schedule for 2017. His plans to play Stuttgart tournament through 2017 and design his outfit for the US Open in 2018 indicates there is more to come from Federer in the foreseeable future.
However, after a season full of injuries and setbacks, it is hard for many not to speculate about Federer's retirement.
Federer recovered from a knee injury he sustained after his loss against career rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, but came back to the tennis scene with only a pinch of his old form. He was also bothered by a back problem that forced him to miss a handful of tournaments during the European clay circuit, which contributed to his losses this season.
Federer was able to turn things around a bit at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinal round of the tournament only to fall short against Canada's Milos Raonic.
At that moment, Federer's form was impressive, considering the fact that his aging body just came from series of injuries that haunted him all-season long. But after hurting his surgically-repaired knee in the final set of his match against Raonic, concerns were raised over Federer's retirement, which the Basel native quickly played down, insisting another shot at Wimbledon glory next year.
"I was fortunate enough to play all my matches on Centre Court. I don't take that for granted," Federer said.
"That's what I was going through, not thinking this might be my last Wimbledon. And, yes, I hope to be back on Centre Court, to be very clear for you."
It remains to be seen whether Federer has already set a deadline for his illustrious career. His retirement from the sport may or may not come in two years' time, but the certainty is that it would surely sadden many watching tennis without Federer.