Roger Federer : This break could be beneficial for future of my tennis career

"I do believe that it could be very beneficial for the future of my tennis career.

"To have had this six-month layoff, rejuvenated, refreshed... maybe mentally I needed this rest more than I thought I would. Maybe my body needed a rest more than I thought it would. I tried to look at the big picture, I hope it's going to pay off.

"At least one thing I know now is I have no regrets. I did everything this year to get my body back in shape. It didn't feel too gruelling, too long, too hard to go through this process. I have actually enjoyed it," Federer said, reported Reuters.

Back in July, Federer had announced that he would miss the Olympics and the remainder of the season as he recuperated from a knee injury. He had also missed the French Open earlier this year, breaking a run of 65 consecutive participations in the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments. Federer has announced his intention to return at the start of the new season in Perth, hoping to get in shape for the first Grand Slam of the year.

"This year is unique because maybe this is the year more than any time before where I do need matches at the beginning of the season.

"Matches have a different intensity about it and your body reacts according to it," he added.

The tennis world saw a new no.1 in Andy Murray this year, who toppled Novak Djokovic from the top. Federer has praised the Brit for his effort saying, "That just gives even more credit to Andy for not becoming world number one but finishing world number one. Those are two separate things.

"Becoming world number one for a week or finishing a year as world number one, it's a different animal."