Roger Federer's agent Tony Godsick insisted that the Swiss Maestro's decision to pull out from the 2016 Rio Olympics and the rest of the season was the right decision to make "if the goal is to play as long as he can."
Federer shocked the tennis world after announcing he is done for the remainder of the season, skipping the Olympic Games and the remaining tournaments that lie ahead. While the 34-year-old's verdict dealt a huge blow for the Olympics tennis, it is a disappointing news for Federer himself and his attempt to get back on the winning track.
But according Federer's agent Tony Godsick, the 17-time Grand Slam winner made the right move if the Swiss' main goal is to compete as long as he can. Several reports have Federer leaning on retirement, but Godsick insisted it was an "encouraging" decision that only shows the Basel native isn't ready to call it quits yet.
"There is no gloom and doom in our camp," Godsick said, reports ESPN. "The decision was unfortunate, on the face, a bummer, but it was encouraging, too. It shows he still wants to get out there and give it a few more years."
Speculation over Federer's retirement has long been a floating topic, considering his age and decline in his form. But any of those talks may have intensified after Federer re-injured his surgically-repaired knee in the final set of a semifinal match against Milos Raonic at Wimbledon.
However, all indications point to Federer still possibly playing in the next two 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.
Then, there is also Federer's ever optimistic take on almost all things, including his most recent injuries and setbacks.
"The love I have for tennis, the competition, tournaments and of course you, the fans remains intact," Federer wrote in a Facebook post. "I am as motivated as ever and plan to put all my energy towards coming back strong, healthy and in shape to play attacking tennis in 2017."
It surely is disappointing for many fans to not see Federer compete at the Olympic Games and the US Open, where he could have had the chance to extend his all-time Grand Slam win record. But it could be for the better good: not seeing Federer play tennis for now means witnessing his greatness for a couple more years.