Roger Federer Sets Focus on 2015 US Open Title After Rogers Cup Withdrawal

By skipping his annual summer trip to Canada, Roger Federer is sending a clear message to the opposition: His chips are all-in for the U.S. Open. 

Federer won't be heading to Montreal for the 2015 Rogers Cup, an announcement which came as a mild surprise. That decision means the Swiss maestro won't be able to defend any of the 600 points he earned by reaching last year's final. Somewhere, Andy Murray is licking his chops as the No. 2 ranking zooms into view.

But the number next to his name doesn't stress Federer much anymore. Where he stands in the rankings is irrelevant to the larger goal of ending his Grand Slam drought.

Perspective is a difficult ally to keep in the high-pressure world of professional sports, yet Federer seems to have no problems understanding his limitations and modifying his schedule to compensate. His 34th birthday will soon be upon him as the clock keeps tick-tick-ticking toward the end of his illustrious career.

Even a peak physical athlete like Federer isn't immune to the aging process, which comes with more wear and tear and slower recovery time for the body. So reducing his commitment to nonessential tournaments is ultimately a savvy move, much to the chagrin of his legion of fans.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

He's only slated to enter one warm-up tournament (Cincinnati) before traveling to New York for the last major of the season. Not playing Montreal is a gamble, but it's a smart one.

A two-time champion at the Rogers Cup, Federer's last title there came way back in 2006. That fact hasn't been lost on him, and he also opted out of the tournament in 2012 and 2013.

While he'll sacrifice a few matches of valuable preparation by missing the event again, Federer will stay home to further recuperate from his long Wimbledon run and focus on training. His body surely thanks for him for the extra time off.

Staying physically fresh for the U.S. Open is key, but so is not peaking too early. And perhaps Federer did that last year when he won Cincinnati. He arrived in the Big Apple having already played so many tense matches, which likely played a role in his eventual semifinal loss to Marin Cilic. Now, he can hit his stride in New York rather than before.

Another possible benefit of skipping Montreal? More time to mentally and emotionally decompress. He came so close to bagging his eighth Wimbledon title a few weeks ago, a journey which ended in more cruel heartbreak at the hands of Novak Djokovic. 

"I am still very hungry and motivated and a match like this is very helpful," Federer told BBC Sport after that loss. "I'm right there. My game is good. I played on my terms. Things are all right." 

Wallowing in misery isn't an option for Federer, not when he sees Grand Slam title No. 18 as a realistic prospect. He produced some of his vintage tennis at Wimbledon; the window may be opening rather closing. 

He hopes to parlay that momentum at the U.S. Open. Father Time is breathing down his neck, meaning Federer doesn't have too many chances left to nab another major. This summer, therefore, takes on added importance.

Expect him to be ready for the challenge.

All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted. 

Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @JoeKennard.