Why there is no doom and gloom for Roger Federer

6:45 PM ET

If you are a genuine fan of Roger Federer, you should vigorously applaud his decision to bail on the rest of the 2016 tennis season.

No, you won’t see Federer in a few weeks’ time, feet falling along the baseline as softly as a cat’s, stalking the elusive singles gold medal in a farewell Olympic performance in Rio. Or later in August, flicking sweet forehands at the National Tennis Center in Flushing in the quest for his sixth US Open title.

In his present, somewhat-less-than-his-best condition, you wouldn’t have seen ultimate success anyway.

But — assuming a few months of rest and rehabilitation can bring his dodgy left knee back to a sound level — the inconvenience of missing out on those late-summer visuals has a massive upside for the athlete who turns 35 in 13 days:

He might not win Masters and majors anymore, but Roger Federer is steadfast on coming back even stronger. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

It likely means a few more years of the less-than-vintage-but-still-stylish Federer we have come to know in recent years — which isn’t half-bad. In fact, it’s still better than good.

Indeed, the mood at the Team8 offices in Pepper Pike, Ohio on Tuesday was upbeat.

“There is no gloom and doom in our camp,” insisted Tony Godsick, Federer’s longtime agent. “The decision was unfortunate, on the face, a bummer, but it was encouraging, too. It shows he still wants to get out there and give it a few more years.”

Since winning Wimbledon in 2012, the final major in his portfolio that includes a record 17-Grand Slam singles titles, Federer has been essentially rolling through an extended, elevated victory lap. He made the final at Wimbledon in 2014 and 2015 and a year ago at the US Open.

Perhaps more telling, after reaching five ATP World Tour 1000 finals in 2014, …

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