Defiant Federer has not lost his resolve

The manner of Federer's 6-3 6-2 defeat to Rafael Nadal in Miami's Sony Ericsson Open semi-finals demonstrated the shifting balance of power in the men's game.

Former world No?.1 Federer is down to No.3, behind Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the players who will contest today's final. It was suggested to 29-year-old Federer, right, that he might think about making a "final statement" in the game, similar to Pete Sampras who ended a two-year trophy drought by landing the 2002 US Open and then retiring. But the man whose 16 grand slam titles make him the most successful men's player of all-time shot down the theory.

"I know that I can do many more things in the game," said the Swiss. "Sure, it's disappointing losing a game, but those are the matches I work extremely hard for in the off-season.

"I don't feel like I'm 35, like you guys make me sound I am. I'm still only 29, and I have many more years left. It's not only just the slams for me. I like any tournament, that's why I play them."

He has an Olympic gold medal in his sights, particularly so given the 2012 tournament will be played on grass at Wimbledon, where he has won six of his grand slams.

"I would love to win the Olympic gold. Who wouldn't? And who wouldn't want to win them at Wimbledon?" Federer said.

"It's clearly a big goal and I'm thinking about it, but it's not my number one goal in my career right now. "We have so many wonderful events around the world."

With Djokovic rising to No.2, there is the prospect of Federer and Nadal meeting more frequently in semi-finals, rather than finals, at least in the short term.

Whether that means the start of a new era, Federer is not so sure. "You tell me," he said. "Let's see in five years. It's not like Novak hasn't been around. Guys all talk about it like the guy can't play tennis. It's disappointing."