Roger Federer plans break to spend with family

Roger Federer will take a near two-month break from competitive tennis following the Indian Wells tournament in March as the 31-year-old opts to spend more time with his young family and prepare for the clay-court season.

The Swiss star, speaking to reporters ahead of today’s start of the Dubai championships, stressed that his lighter schedule was aimed at helping to prolong his playing career and not a sign of him winding down, with the father-of-two determined to add to his record haul of 17 Grand Slam singles titles.

“The last few years have been really tricky in terms of my practice schedule, especially through an Olympic year in 2012,” said the world No 2. “This year is totally different. Family is very important, so I also want to spend quality time with them.”

After the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California,