Federer mulling clay court return in 2019

If Roger Federer does opt to play the clay-court season, he said it will require a significant tweak of his current training regime.

Team Europe's Roger Federer making a speach at the 2017 Laver Cup in Prague, Czech Republic.

World number two Roger Federer says he is mulling a return to the European clay-court season in 2019 following a two-year absence.

Federer, speaking to ESPN on the sidelines of this weekend's Laver Cup, has skipped the clay-court segment of the season since 2017 in order to conserve energy for Wimbledon and hard-court seasons.

However the 37-year-old revealed he is rethinking his scheduling for next season, and may yet play on clay.

“The clay-court season is under review. It's not off the table. I will know by the end of the year,” Federer said.

Three ATP Masters events are held on clay as well as several smaller tournaments in the build up to the French Open and Federer said if he does opt to play the clay-court season it will require a significant tweak of his training regime.

“I would like to make up my mind ahead of time so I can plan my buildup, my fitness schedule, even the way I would approach my December practice sessions. It could benefit the clay-court season. This is something that is obviously a big deal. If you play the clay, it changes everything,” Federer said.

Federer has won a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles but clay has been his least favourite surface. His haul of Grand Slam titles includes only one victory at Roland Garros, in 2009, when he completed his career Grand Slam.

He last reached the French Open final in 2011, when he was beaten in four sets by Rafael Nadal.