Federer in right space as Open rivals battle
TENNIS is definitely a lot of fun, Roger Federer, who embarks on an Australian Open shrouded in mystery over the fitness and mindset of his major rivals in the next fortnight, has said.
The Swiss, rated the favourite to win his 20th grand slam title at the venerable age of 36, is still in love with the game that has made him a recognisable global celebrity and fabulously rich.
Federer is coming off an extraordinary year, when he won a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon, and the way things are shaping there could be yet more glory with his main threats scrambling to be ready.
Five-time finalist Andy Murray and Japan’s Kei Nishikori are already out with injuries, while 12-time major champion Novak Djokovic is working his way back from elbow trouble.
World No 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew from his first tour event of the year, in Brisbane, with continuing knee problems, and has been trying to catch up on the court in Melbourne ahead of the Open.
The 2014 winner, Stan Wawrinka, said his knee was holding up well after surgery but there was still pain and he was miffed that he longer had coach Magnus Norman in his player’s box.
But while others have a troubled buildup to the year’s opening grand slam, Federer is enjoying an unruffled lead in to the Open and is at peace with the world.
“It just seems that it’s nice it’s never gone away, the fun aspect of actually enjoying the travel, coming back to Australia,” Federer said ahead of his first round clash tomorrow against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene.
“It’s great times in my life and my career that we can make it all work, that I can still play tennis.”
Federer is returning to where he lit the fuse on his late-life tennis renaissance this time last year, beating Tomas Berdych, Nishikori, Mischa Zverev and Wawrinka before downing great rival Nadal in a five-set final classic.
“It was the tournament of the year for me, no doubt about it. All the five-setters, as well,” he said.
If there is to be a winner outside the top guns in Melbourne, those who look most likely are Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, third in the rankings behind Nadal and Federer, Germany’s Alexander Zverev and tempestuous Australian Nick Kyrgios.
For the women, Simona Halep will sport her “lucky” red dress and Caroline Wozniacki says she is playing better than ever as both aim for a first grand slam victory when the Australian Open starts on Monday.
The world’s two top-ranked players will spearhead the charge to succeed Serena Williams at the year’s first major left wide open by the withdrawal of the defending champion and new mum. Fourth-ranked Elina Svitolina is also a threat. Last year there were two first-time major winners while Serena was on maternity leave – Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open and Sloane Stephens at the US Open.
But their chances in Melbourne look slim: Stephens has not won a match since her Flushing Meadows triumph, and Ostapenko was far from her attacking best in first-round defeats in Shenzhen and Sydney recently.
Wimbledon champion and world No 3 Garbine Muguruza is battling injury problems which could further aid Halep’s hopes.
And the 26-year-old Romanian, who currently has no clothing sponsor, confirmed she would wear the same “lucky” red dress in Australia that she used while registering a dominant victory at the Shenzhen Open a fortnight ago. – AFP