'I just can't wait to come back': Roger Federer reveals his goals for 2018

World number two Roger Federer has revealed his goals for 2018 as he looks to emulate what has been a "surprising" year of results.

Federer ended a run of five years without a Grand Slam when he returned from an injury lay-off to win the Australian Open in January earlier this year.

The Swiss ace went on to win six more titles, including a record-breaking eighth Wimbledon crown, as he took his total career tally to 95 singles titles and 19 Grand Slams.

However, he was not able to crown a remarkable year by ending it as world number one as his withdrawal from the Paris Masters – as a precautionary measure to prevent aggravating an injury – confirmed that rival Rafael Nadal would begin 2018 as the top-ranked player in the ATP tennis rankings.

Despite being just over 1,000 points behind the Spaniard, Federer's goal for the new season is not to become world number one for the first time since 2012. Instead, his goal is to simply just play well again like he did in 2017, particularly in the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

"Coming off the back of this season is already so exciting," Federer said, as quoted by Tennis World USA. "I just can't wait to come back to all the tournaments I played so well this year, you know.

"This year was so surprising in so many ways that I just hope I can play well again in Australia, do well again at Wimbledon.

"So we'll see what happens, but I am just so happy and healthy and still enjoying myself."

Federer will begin the new campaign at the Hopman Cup in Perth that begins on 30 December.