Australian Open 2018: Roger Federer admits he forgot to mention customary 'I'll be back' phrase, says he will be back

What's the story?

Roger Federer's thirst for another title isn't over, as the 2018 Grand Slam champion confirmed his participation in next year's season. Having picked up his 20th Grand Slam and his 6th Australian Open title, the 36-year-old went on to say that he would return to the court next year in order to defend his title once again, much to the joy of his fans.

In case you didn't know...

The Australian Open final was held on 28th January, between Roger Federer and Marin Cilic. Federer proved, once again, that he was a class apart by clinching the coveted title and becoming the first man to win 20 Grand Slams. With his 6th Australian Open title, Federer joined the likes of Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic. He also emulated the record of Ken Rosewall who won three Grand Slam titles after the age of 35.

The heart of the matter

After beating Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, Federer was too overwhelmed by emotions and forgot to mention his customary "I'll be back" during his award acceptance speech. This sparked speculation about his possible retirement and thus sent the fans into a frenzy.

However, later on, when he was asked about it, the Swiss maestro told reporters, "Yeah, I'd love to come back. I know I forgot to say that after the match. But I hope, I come back again next year."

At the age of 36, Roger Federer owes his longevity to meticulous planning and management of his schedule. After having solely concentrated on the Wimbledon last year, he picked up his 8th title in London.

He believes that he will continue to plan his schedules tightly and will get back to his management after spending quality time with his family. Stating that the feeling of his victory has still not sunk in, he said: "This year seems more surreal, I can't believe I was able to defend my title after all these years, that I could do it again. To reach number 20, number six here, it's just a lot trying to take it in."

What's next?

The next edition of the Australian Open will take place again in February 2019, and here's hoping that Federer makes a victorious comeback once again.

Author's take

As a Federer fan, the news of his participation in next year's Grand Slam definitely comes as a relief. A chance to watch Federer in action once again is an indescribable emotion that all Federer fans are going through at the moment.