French Open and clay-court season not off the table for 2019 - Roger Federer

The Swiss superstar has won only one of his 20 Grand Slam titles on the clay courts of Roland Garros, back in 2009.

The 37-year-old has removed the clay-court season from his calendar entirely the last two seasons, but he has hinted that his decision could be changed next year.

"I will know by the end of the year," he told ESPN. "I would like to make up my mind ahead of time so I can plan my buildup, my fitness schedule, even the way I would approach my December practice sessions.

"It could benefit the clay-court season. This is something that is obviously a big deal. If you play the clay, it changes everything."

Federer last reached the final at Roland Garros in 2011 when he was defeated by Rafael Nadal, whose dominance on the surface has perhaps contributed to his perennial rival's reluctance to add events to his schedule.

It would be a significant shift in priorities for Federer if he were to incorporate the French Open and the three Masters Series events on clay into his calendar.

The Swiss added Australian Open titles in 2017 and 2018 and a Wimbledon triumph in 2017 to his historic Grand Slam tally in the two years he has skipped tournaments on the red dirt.