AUSTRALIAN OPEN: FEDERER’S FIT, BUT RIVALS ARE STRUGGLING

NOVAK Djokovic’s hopes of contesting the Australian Open are dwindling following his withdrawal from the ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

The six-time Melbourne Park champion said he was still enduring elbow soreness, ruling him out of the Qatari tournament.

“Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for better since yesterday. I still feel the pain,” he said. “Therefore, I will have to withdraw from ATP tournament in Doha.

“I am sorry that I will not be able to play in front of my fans here. However, after the thorough consultations with the medical team, we decided to keep up with the therapies and elbow treatments.

“Only when I’m 100 per cent ready to play, I will be able to come back.

“I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for patience and understanding.”

Djokovic also withdrew from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, plunging his early season into disarray. FED Cup captain Alicia Molik is backing Ashleigh Barty’s supreme conditioning and oncourt smarts to help the new Australian No.1 cope with the intense summer spotlight.

Barty launches her 2018 season against Ukraine’s world No.42 Lesia Tsurenko in the first round of the Brisbane International today, having risen 308 spots up the rankings since last New Year’s Eve.

Molik has no doubts the world No.17 is ready to handle the heat.

“I love the way she plays. She always plays exciting,” Molik said yesterday.

“She has great hands and she has a great mind too to pick her opponent to pieces. She knows where their weaknesses are.”