Federer will be aiming for his seventh Wimbledon title this year

By Jonathan Overend BBC tennis correspondent

World number one Roger Federer has told BBC Sport he intends to carry on playing well beyond the 2012 Olympics.

In an exclusive interview to be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live on Thursday at 2200 BST, he says he has no intention of contemplating retirement.

The 28-year-old also feels his best tennis is just around the corner.

"I don't have a problem saying this is the second half of my career because I do have kids and a lot of things have changed around me," he said.

"It's a lot of fun right now and I obviously want to do this as long as possible.

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"The moment you start questioning yourself and asking 'how am I going to go out of this sport' - well it's never crossed my mind. It's just not something I'm even in the mood to think about.

"People think I'm going to retire at the 2012 Olympics - which is not true. Even though you never know, it depends on your body, I would like to play beyond that so we'll see how it goes."

The 16-time Grand Slam winner is currently defending his Madrid Open title which, in 2009, came at the start of an extraordinary summer when he also completed the coveted 'double' of Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

On 23 July, shortly after his Wimbledon win over Andy Roddick, wife Mirka gave birth to twin daughters Myla and Charlene.

"It was a very emotional few weeks and months," added Federer.

"Looking back now, one year ago I didn't have two daughters, I didn't have three more Slams and one more Slam final. It's quite amazing what has happened in the last year."

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