Federer targets Rio Olympics

Roger Federer, pictured here in August 2012, wants to play at the 2016 Rio Olympics and will cut back his schedule in an effort to extend his shelf life.

SAO PAULO - Roger Federer wants to play at the 2016 Rio Olympics and will cut back his schedule in an effort to extend his shelf life.

The 17-time Grand Slam title winner will be 35 by the time the Rio Games come around, but the Swiss world number two remains without a gold medal in singles having been defeated by Andy Murray in the London Olympics final this year.

He was a gold medallist in doubles in Beijing in 2008.

“My goal is to be here again in three and a half years to play the Rio Olympics,” said Federer on Thursday, ahead of a series of exhibition matches in Brazil.

Federer will play 14 events in 2013, beginning at the season’s first Grand Slam event at the Australian Open in Melbourne, but will skip the Miami Masters and Monte Carlo Masters.

“I’m trying to prioritize the events in which I participate, therefore I am not able to play 25 tournaments in a year,” he told the Folha newspaper.

“I am picking just those already won or to which I have a sentimental attachment, either with the people or with the city.”

Federer will share the exhibition tour in Brazil with home player Thomaz Bellucci, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Germany’s Tommy Haas and Spain’s Tommy Robredo.

Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams are also part of the tour.

“I’m very excited to be here. I have waited for this for years. I have travelled almost every day of my life. I was not able to come here until now,” Federer told the Globo website.