Federer fell agonisingly short of a record eighth Wimbledon title on Sunday as the Swiss star was beaten 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) 5-7, 6-4 by Novak Djokovic in one of the great All England Club finals.
The 32-year-old's defeat left him with his 2012 Wimbledon triumph as his only Grand Slam crown in his last 18 attempts.
His last major success outside the grasscourt Grand Slam came at the 2010 Australian Open and by the time he returns to Wimbledon next year Federer will be almost 34.
"I don't feel a huge threat from them. There's many good players from 5 or 6 to 20. But they're also somewhat exchangeable from 30 or 40," Federer said.
"There's a lot of dangerous players around there. But I feel like if I'm playing well I can control the field to a degree.
Bulgaria's Dimitrov, 23, and Canada's Raonic, 23, made it to their first Grand Slam semi-finals at Wimbledon, but both came up short against Djokovic and Federer respectively.
In contrast, Nadal won his first Grand Slam aged 19, Federer at 21 and Djokovic at 20.
"We all made the breakthrough much earlier than most of the guys," Federer said.
"Rafa was incredible as a teenager. I was better at 21. That's when I started to make my rise.
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