Fed still backs old guard to show its class

is that their ranking is going to be all over the place. We’re going to see some interesting draws, to say the least.”

Federer pointed to the examples of himself and old rival Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open this year.

Injuries and loss of form saw him seeded at 17 and Nadal on nine.

However, they still made the final, with Federer winning the title before adding an eighth Wimbledon trophy in July.

Nadal, for his part, claimed a 10th French Open and has since regained the world number one ranking.

“We had a little bit with me and Rafa down in Australia. But now we’re talking probably about a bigger group,” added Federer of his and Nadal’s situation in Melbourne.

“That’s going to go down maybe all the way to Murray, as well, depending if he’s going to be playing at all for the rest of the season. Got a lot of points to defend.

“If that’s the case, he might drop further down outside of the top four, then things are going to look real weird.”

Federer needed a second successive five-setter to reach the US Open third round with a 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over veteran Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.

Five-time US Open champion and third seed Federer had also needed five sets to see off US teenager Frances Tiafoe in the first round.

The 36-year-old will face another 35year-old in Feliciano Lopez for a place in the last 16. His record against the Spaniard is just as solid – 12-0.

“It was quite a lot of fun out there,” said Federer. — AFP