The debate will continue as to whether or not Roger Federer is the greatest player to have ever picked up a racquet, but virtually all can agree that he is among the best of the best to have ever played the game.  Like many other past greats such as Bill Tilden, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Jimmy Connors, and Pete Sampras, Federer’s name will forever be written in the annals of the sport.

But a place in history is not the only thing that Federer has in common with these giants of tennis.  Like his distinguished peers, Federer has been blessed with a boatload of talent and the mentality to utilize his gifts.  He has also had the good fortune of remaining relatively injury- and illness-free throughout the bulk of his career.  But in spite of these attributes, there is one stumbling block that inevitably catches up to all players irrespective of their legendary status: age.  With age, the seemingly once untouchable competitor is rendered human.  Doubts and nerves, previously so well managed, begin to wreak havoc in the game as the realization that the opportunities to win the big titles are growing increasingly fewer and fewer.

The effects of aging can be particularly brutal in an individual sport like tennis.  A tennis player cannot be protected within a lineup or given a breather on the bench.  When a loss comes, there are no teammates with which to commiserate with.  Equally important, there is no else to shoulder the blame.  It is a reality that is hardest on those who have enjoyed the most success.  After all, as the saying goes, “the bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

In light of all of this, it would not be surprising to hear Federer opt to call it a career now or in the very near future, especially since so many from his generation have already gone into retirement.  Yet it seems Federer could not be further from throwing in the towel.  As evidenced by his recent comments at this week’s Shanghai Masters, it is clear that the former No. 1 has no intention of hanging up the racquet any time soon.  His comments illustrated not only a deeply-rooted love for the game and self-belief, but an increasing awareness of where he fits within the current landscape of the men’s game.  They are words that should provide hope for Federer’s legions of fans.

Speaking to reporters in Shanghai, Federer admitted that he had expected 2013 to be a quieter year after all of the success he enjoyed in 2012 – success that included a Wimbledon title and a return to the No. 1 ranking.  2013 has definitely been a quiet year when compared to the high bar that Federer has set for himself over the course of his career.  He has only one title for the season (Halle), and has reached only one other final (Rome Masters).  He has failed to reach the final of a least one of the majors for the first time since 2002, with the low point coming with his stunning second round loss at Wimbledon.  Additionally, he has also seen his ranking fall to No. 7, which for a guy who has spent a record 302 weeks at the top is like falling off of a cliff.

Many players in Federer’s position would likely walk away at this point.  There is little-to-nothing left to prove.  He has done most everything there is to do in the sport.  He holds a plethora of records, has been the recipient of numerous awards, and accumulated several trophies.  Furthermore, at age 32, Federer has to know that odds are his game will only continue to decline, and the losses to the unheralded journeymen are apt to increase. 

But Federer is a guy who sees the glass as half full.  What he accepts as a lackluster 2013 he argues can also mean a potentially lucrative 2014.  Next season, he will have fewer points to defend, which means he can compete with less pressure to perform.  Federer also noted, “I think my game’s been coming back, which has been very important.  Now it’s about staying positive and working hard every single day.  That’s been the mindset.”

That is the kind of mindset Federer needs now, and it is the kind of mindset that could pay dividends down the line.  Lest there be any doubt about the power of belief, look no further than at what Sampras, a man whom Federer idolized, managed to do in what ultimately turned out to be the final tournament of his stellar career.  The year was 2002.   Sampras suffered a humiliating loss to George Bastle in the second round of Wimbledon.  A couple of months later, he entered the US Open, aged 31 and seeded No. 17.  Few believed he had it in him to win one more major, but he proved the naysayers wrong.  He dished out impressive losses to young upstarts Tommy Haas and Andy Roddick en route to the final where he defeated his greatest rival, Andre Agassi, in four sets. 

Federer is a tad older than what Sampras was when he pulled off that miraculous feat.  He is well aware that his best days are behind him.  He knows that, going forward, he is going to have to catch lightening in a bottle or perhaps get a little help from the draw if he hopes to grab another major.  But Federer also has the experience.  He has and continues to put in the hard yards.  He knows his role in the current game and embraces his place within the sport’s history.  And when you have achieved as much as Federer has, what seems impossible can still very much be possible.  So do not make the mistake of counting Federer out in 2014.  The Maestro might still have some magic up his sleeve.