What Should We Expect from Roger Federer in 2017?

Durability is one of the most underappreciated aspects of Roger Federer's greatness.

For all the praise heaped upon him for his myriad accomplishments and otherworldly racket skills, that he maintained such a clean bill of health in an era when the game became more physical is no less noteworthy.

Avoiding major injuries for his first 17 seasons, iron man Federer set a record by appearing in 65 consecutive Grand Slams between the 2000 and 2016 Australian Opens. That streak is astonishing.

As other chief rivals—namely Rafael Nadal—battled an assortment of physical problems, the Swiss' agile, suave style of play spared his body unnecessary wear and tear and extended his shelf life. Even in his mid-30s, the dexterous Federer showed no signs of breaking down.

Until this year. 

Beginning 2016 with optimism following a campaign that saw him win six titles and reach the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals, Federer (along with new coach Ivan Ljubicic) set out to make inroads on world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and continue his quest for an 18th major.

In Melbourne, he coasted to the semifinals for the 12th time in 13 years, his run ended by none other than a red-hot Djokovic. Little did he know how dramatically things were about to change.

A day after that loss, Federer tore his left meniscus in a fluke accident while preparing a bath for his young twin daughters. Expected to be sidelined for a short period after minor surgery, the injury wound up sabotaging his campaign.

Federer only participated in five tournaments after the Australian Open, the pain in his knee lingering. In retrospect, he probably rushed back too soon and didn't allow himself an extended recovery.

Also dealing with a back injury that forced him out of Roland Garros and ended his Grand Slam streak, Federer willed himself through the grass-court season at less than 100 percent. A five-set loss to Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semifinals proved his final match of the year.

During the fifth set, Federer's knee buckled and he laid face-down on the lawn as he tried to collect himself. That would be the lasting image of his season to forget.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

In late July, Federer announced he'd sit out the rest of 2016 to allow for more rigorous rehabilitation. 

"I am as motivated as ever and plan to put all my energy towards coming back strong, healthy and in shape to play attacking tennis in 2017," Federer wrote on his Facebook page.

But the 35-year-old and his legion of fans might want to temper their expectations. After several months of inactivity, even someone as gifted as Federer needs time to reacquaint himself with the speed of the game and get back into match shape.

When he plays the Hopman Cup in January (as of now his next scheduled event), Federer will find himself outside the Top 10 for the first time since 2002.

Likely to be ranked in the lower teens by that point, he'll be handed tougher draws to start off. That means he theoretically could play Djokovic or Andy Murray as early as the fourth round at the Australian Open, where he's defending semifinal points.

GREG WOOD/Getty Images

Slipping outside the Top 20 in the immediate aftermath of his return is a real possibility. It could take several tournaments or longer before he settles in.

"I have thought about that these few weeks—what'll it be like when I return...will I feel pressure,” Federer told Tages Anzeiger (h/t Tennis.com). "I will have dropped a few rankings. But if I can train the way I am hoping [during the offseason], I'm thinking that I can quite rapidly rejoin."

The truth is no one—not even Federer—knows how his knee will hold up or whether there'll be any limitations on his movement. At age 35, his body is more delicate and requires extra attention and rest. Coupled with the injury, he'll have to be extremely cautious about not overextending himself.

We could see him enter fewer events than he normally does.

A typical season for the Swiss often involves around 17 tournaments. Scaling back on that number is something he'll have to consider in order to stay fresh for the Grand Slams. Less of Federer is a thought many spectators won't be thrilled with, but it's necessary if he's to extend his career.

Retirement is a topic Federer often sidesteps. If it were up to him, he'd probably play well into his 40s, the unbridled love of the game being his fuel. But this knee injury showed that the former world No. 1 is mortal after all, providing Father Time a first victory in their battle.

"

"This is not the end... This is the beginning of something very special."@RogerFederer​ will be back stronger than ever in 2017#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/MbBuOBxoEr

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) October 24, 2016"

In the above video, Federer mentioned taking things slowly and not feeling any setbacks. That's a positive indication that he can return to form (or at least close to it).

The hope is that by December he'll be able to handle more intense training and practice, gradually increasing his activity as his body allows. A few weeks of on-court preparation may not bode well for his prospects at the Australian Open. Then again, this is Federer we're talking about, so never count him out. But it's important to remain realistic and patient as he takes on a bigger workload.

Competing against athletic younger rivals in Djokovic and Murray, as well as a new crop of rising stars like Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem, Federer's body will be put to the test. Already an attacking, offensive-minded player, we could see him utilize those tactics to an even more extreme level in order to keep points short and lessen the burden on his knee.

Psychologically, Federer may deal with initial fear (even subconsciously) of re-injury. That's a common concern for any athlete coming off surgery. Trust in his body is something he'll earn back the more he plays and stays healthy. 

How Federer responds to all these factors in 2017 will determine if last year was the beginning of the end or just a detour before a successful final act.

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

Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow @JoeKennard