Incredibly excited for my India visit: Roger Federer

Roger Federer is like a kid in a candy shop when he talks about his upcoming India visit. "I'm so incredibly excited to be going to India," he says laughing, his eyes lighting up.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion will be in New Delhi from December 6 to 8 for Mahesh Bhupathi's International Premier Tennis League, a pan-Asian, inter-city affair, for which he'll turn out for the Indian Aces.

"For me going to India is like going to South America, like I felt in my initial years," Federer said. "It feels unreal because you've wanted it to happen for so long, and then finally it's happening." Federer said India intrigued him.

"I understand that the north of India is very different from the south, culturally, languages, the food you eat and the clothes you wear," he said, "It would be impossible to experience all of India at one go. Whenever I speak to Indians anywhere in the world I notice that they speak of their country with a great sense of pride, which is very nice, very sweet. You all have a great history. "I would love one day to travel across your great country and experience all there is to experience. My last trip to Chennai and then Pondicherry for relief work was incredible. My wife Mirka was also with me that time. I have great memories of India." Federer said he was itching to take the court in the capital city. "I can't wait to walk out on to the court, to see the fans, feel the energy. It's an honour and a privilege," he said.

"Playing in India is something I've always dreamt of. But again my India trip will be so much more than just tennis. That's India really. It's got to be more than just tennis."

"I hadn't originally signed up for the IPTL, that part of the year was already busy for me and I thought that it would be better to wait out the first year and see how it goes," the Swiss ace said. "Then suddenly this opportunity came up and I thought why not? It fits perfectly, right in the middle of my training. I wasn't going to change my training schedule radically, because obviously I'm looking to get ready for the next season. I play in Delhi and then I go back to training and then I play my charity match with Stan (Wawrinka) in Switzerland. It all fits perfectly."