Australian Open champion Roger Federer could overtake Rafael Nadal as world number 1 if he plays in next month’s Dubai Open.
However, no decision has yet been made on whether will enter next month’s event, he told reporters on Monday.
Federer’s comments come a day after the 36-year old won his 20th grand slam title with a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1 win over Croatian Marin Cilic.
“We were in talks with them [the organisers of the Dubai Open] but when the [Australian Open] started, I just said ‘look, if it’s okay, I’d like to decide after the tournament’,” he said. “That’s an ideal scenario for me.
“So now we know what the situation is,” he added. “I also have to decide on the claycourt season so all these things are kind of interlinked.”
Federer noted that while “it’s possible” he’ll play, “it’s also possible that maybe I just don’t play anything (for a while).”
A final decision about his schedule will be made after spending time with his family after spending time with his family in Switzerland, after his Australian Open win – which he said feels “surreal” – sinks in.
Federer’s Australian Open win leaves him just 155 points behind Rafael Nadal in the rankings.
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