Roger Federer appeared to banish talk of any impending retirement plans with news on Monday (23rd November) that he would be playing at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart for the next two years.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Roger Federer, world number 3

"Very excited, I played in Stuttgart way back when at the very beginning of my career, but on on the indoors, so now to go back to Stuttgart and play on grass courts, I never thought that was going to happen. So personally I watched the first edition on the TV, I watched it (and) I thought the courts looked great, the atmosphere was nice and I always wished I could have played it, but it was in the wrong time after Wimbledon, so now they have moved dates it's an opportunity for me to go and play in Germany for another week and especially in Stuttgart to play in the Mercedes Cup is going to be very exciting, I can't wait for it to come around."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Roger Federer, world number 3

"Right. I like to look ahead and plan in advance and give tournaments something they can look forward to. Also personally I know my schedule, it's a week that is not going to change for the Mercedes Cup for me personally as well. Like I mentioned, I would like to play more on the grass, now that it is an extended period on the grass courts, might as well make the most of it and first I've got to play the first edition (of the Mercedes Cup) to tell you more how it was for me personally, but I am looking forward to it, there is no doubt about that."