Melbourne: The prospects of an unprecedented 20th Grand Slam victory have strengthened for ageless wonder Roger Federer as his main rivals flounder ahead of the Australian Open. However, the defending champion is not ready to think about who is playing or who is not.
The 36-year-old is coming off an extraordinary 2017, when he won a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon, and there could be yet more glory with a depleted field of top contenders in Melbourne.
Andy Murray and Japan’s Kei Nishikori are already out of the year’s opening Grand Slam with injuries. Then there are the ‘walking wounded’ – Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Stan Wawrinka – who are all making a comeback from injuries. Amidst all this, Federer continues to pull out amazing win like he did when leading Switzerland to the Hopman Cup title last week.
“I just have to pace myself all the way up to the tournament in Melbourne, and I’ll be ready,” he said after his Hopman Cup final victory at Perth. “I’m just excited going back to Melbourne where I had my fairytale run last year. It was crazy. “It’s great to be the defending champion. I take it the right way. I won’t put extra pressure on myself, regardless of who’s going to play, or not play.
“For me it’s just important to be in a good mindset, well prepared, and ready to go. And I feel like I am ready,” added the Swiss.
The doubts regarding the fitness of Djokovic, Nadal and Wawrinka (all former winners here) have shifted the spotlight to a number of young guns. Among them are World No.3 Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, No.5 Germany’s Alexander Zverev and the tempestuous Australian Nick Kyrgios, who warmed up for the year’s first Grand Slam by winning the Brisbane Open.
Dimitrov, once nicknamed ‘Baby Fed’ for his playing style, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2017, winning four titles, including his first Masters crown in Cincinnati.
Zverev, 20, has been touted as the ‘next big thing’ for some years and is coming off five titles last season, yet he has never made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
Kyrgios will have his supporters, especially in Australia, after beating Dimitrov on the way to winning his fourth ATP Tour title at the Brisbane International.
“Right now it’s all about recovering and feeling the ball for the Australian Open. Because obviously I’m playing well under pressure and in pressure situations,” Kyrgios told reporters here after a hit out in the afternoon.
Nadal says knee is fine
Melbourne: World No.1 Rafael Nadal lost his first match of the year 4-6, 5-75 to Richard Gasquet at the Kooyong Classic exhibition here, Tuesday, but said he was happy after his troublesome knee held up ‘fine’. He had skipped last week’s Brisbane International for the same problem. Nadal, 31, said he will be ready to front up for the first round. “The knee is fine,” he said in answer to the inevitable question. “I’m here. If I was not feeling good I would not be here, so that’s good news.”
Roll of honour
Roger Federer 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017
Rafa Nadal 2009
Novak Djokovic 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Stan Wawrinka 2014
Agencies
