Tennis chiefs to bend rules for Federer's last shot at history

Tennis officials could bend the rules to give Roger Federer one last shot at Olympic glory and tennis history at Tokyo 2020.

For all he has achieved in the sport, the Swiss great is yet to join Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal as the only men to win the ‘golden slam’ – all four majors plus a men’s singles gold medal.

Federer walked away from his first two Olympics in Sydney and Athens without a medal and won doubles gold with Stan Wawrinka at Beijing 2008.

London 2012 was almost set up for Federer to take out singles gold as Wimbledon hosted the tournament just weeks after he won the grand slam there for a seventh time, but he was defeated by Great Britain’s Andy Murray in the final.

Federer chose not to compete at Rio 2016 as injuries began to threaten his career.

While some may have thought retirement before Tokyo 2020 was on the cards, the 37-year-old constantly shuts down any questions about an end date.

However, International Tennis Federation rules state that players must represent their nation in at least two Davis Cup ties between 2017 and 2020, including one in 2019 or 2020, to qualify for the Olympics.

Federer has skipped every Switzerland tie since the beginning of 2015 in part because he had finally won the tournament in 2014, and because he has carefully managed his schedule to combat injuries and fatigue.

The changing face of the Davis Cup from a year-long tournament to a week-long event – with just one qualification round early in the year for 24 nations, including Federer’s Switzerland – muddies the Olympic qualification system.

The ITF knows this – and for Federer, it appears, an Olympic berth is forthcoming if he wants it.

“Within the rules are things about past champions, past Olympians and grand slam winners,” ITF president David Haggerty said.

“I have been talking to Roger’s team and they’re aware of things. He may or may not play Davis Cup, it hasn’t been decided one way or another, but all that will be factored in.

“Certainly someone like Roger would be great to have at the Olympics.”

Federer’s recent decision to move from sportswear giants Nike to the Japanese company Uniqlo was seen as a suggestion that he was almost guaranteed to get to Tokyo 2020.

But the man himself said recently that staying on tour long enough to reach the Olympics was not a specific goal.

“This is not an objective in itself, as in London or Rio,” he said.

“At the time, people thought that I would stop my career before 2012. I had already said at that time that I wanted to continue playing, it was the same for Rio.

“It’s true it can be amazing to play in Tokyo, but I’m not really focused on it.”

There are precedents for waiving the eligibility criteria.

Often injured, Rafael Nadal was handed a spot in Spain’s Rio 2016 squad and Juan Martin del Potro, who had not competed for Argentina in the Davis Cup since 2012, was also approved to play.

Del Potro made the most of his chance as he went on an emotional run to the final, where Murray won his second consecutive gold medal.