The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Federer not sure over ‘favourite’ tag
Defending champion keen to consider other challengers
A 36-year-old, argued Roger Federer, should not be favourite to win the Australian Open.
Yet making a case for any other man in the draw is almost impossible.
Rafael Nadal, in particular, could play himself into that role but he has not contested a match since November because of knee troubles while the fitness of six-time champion Novak Djokovic is even more uncertain after six months out with an elbow injury.
With former world No 1 Andy Murray sidelined after surgery on his hip, those two are still expected to be the Swiss star’s main threats.
Federer, of course, knows that such transformations are eminently possible after returning from his own injury hiatus 12 months ago to win a stunning 18th grand slam title.
This time his preparation has been virtually perfect, and Federer said of his expectations: “It’s totally different.
“This year I hope to win the first few rounds and get rolling hopefully, whereas last year I was just hoping to win (a match).
“It was more of a ‘let’s see’ kind of tournament, maybe similar to what Novak or Stan (Wawrinka) or others are going through this year.
“If you’re in the draw, you give your- self a chance. That’s what happened for me last year. And it ended up way better than I thought it would.
“It was the tournament of the year for me, no doubt about it. Having no expectations was so nice after all these years always having expectations, like now this year again.
“With age I feel like I play down my chances just because I don’t think a 36-year-old should be a favourite of a tournament.
“I feel like maybe somebody like a Rafa, with the year that he’s had, and Novak, with the six titles he’s had here – even if it’s unknown how he’s feeling – they could very well be the favourites, too.”
He may be 36 but Federer has never lost his boyish enthusiasm for tennis, which has sustained him through the different periods of his career.
This is arguably the most remarkable period of all, with the Swiss following up his Australian triumph by winning an eighth Wimbledon.
A record 20th slam title could see him return to world No 1, although Nadal only needs to reach the quarter-finals to hold on to that honour.
Federer said: “I’ve always enjoyed it. Do I enjoy it more now? It’s unfair if I say yes, because I felt like I loved the time when I was coming up and playing my heroes from TV. That was extremely cool. It’s like a little boy in the candy store.
“It’s just nice that it’s never actually gone away, the fun aspect of actually enjoying the travel, coming back to Australia. It’s great times in my life and in my career that we can make it all work, that I can still play tennis.”
Federer will open his campaign tomorrow against former British player Aljaz Bedene, now back representing Slovenia.
Britain’s sole representative in the men’s draw, Kyle Edmund, takes on 11th seed Kevin Anderson today