FEDERER PLAYS DOWN CHANCES
Roger Federer prefers to think of Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic as the favourites for the Australian Open title, despite entering as defending champion and coming off a worry-free preparation. “I play down my chances just because I don’t think a 36-year-old should be a favourite of a tournament,” Federer said Sunday on the eve of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, The 19-time major winner can afford to relax slightly longer, given the half of the draw that he shares with Djokovic doesn’t start until Day 2. Three Canadians earned direct entry into the tournament. They include No. 22 Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount. Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil and Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., won their final-round qualifying matches to reach the main draw.