Roger Federer excited by prospect of 21st Australian Open appearance

Roger Federer said there was a moment when he pondered whether he should venture to Melbourne for his 21st Australian Open.

Roger Federer, with Australian golfer Adam Scott at a sponsor’s event at South Yarra tennis club, has had a laid-back preparation for the Australian Open. Picture: David Caird

Roger Federer said there was a fleeting moment last week when he pondered whether he should venture to Melbourne for his 21st Australian Open.

“I was asking myself, ‘Am I happy to go to Australia? Or would I rather just stay here and stop packing immediately, because I can. I could easily just stay home’,” he said.

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It seems a logical question to ask given the six-time winner is 38, but the answer came to him swiftly. If he still loved the sport, why would he not continue to play for as long as possible?

“I am definitely passionate about the game and what I do. That is the number one thing,” he said. “I love going to practice much more now than when I was young. That is one thing. The travel doesn’t bother me too much. I was actually very excited again when I was packing up last week.”

The 20-time grand slam leader enters the Australian Open fresh after deciding to withdraw from the ATP Cup to spend more time with his family. Instead he opted for some exhibitions with Alexander Zverev through South America last month and will be hoping an altered preparation helps him to excel again in Melbourne.

Federer has kept a close eye on the ATP Cup since he arrived a few days ago and watched Rafael Nadal’s clashes against Alex de Minaur and Novak Djokovic.

The Swiss superstar, who was speaking at the launch of his Uniqlo range alongside Australian golfer Adam Scott, has no doubt his closest pursuers on the grand slam table are the men to beat when the Australian Open begins next Monday.

Nadal claimed last year’s French and US Open titles to move to 19 majors, which is one shy of Federer, while also finishing the 2019 season as the world No 1.

Djokovic was successful in Australia and then defeated Federer in an epic at Wimbledon, saving two match points in a historic final decided by the first ever fifth-set tie-breaker there.

“I think both guys are already showing great signs,” Federer said. “I was watching them yesterday at the ATP Cup and I thought that was a great match. Both guys, when they are injury free, they are both tough to beat.”

Federer, whose two most recent Australian Open titles came in 2017 and 2018, is listed as the fourth favourite for the event.

Djokovic, who has built a remarkable record at Melbourne Park since 2008, is listed as the $2.25 favourite after an unbeaten run that culminated in leading Serbia to success in the ATP Cup.

The TAB lists Nadal as the second favourite at $5 while Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who pushed the Spaniard to the brink in the US Open final and Djokovic in a thriller in Sydney last Saturday, is a $9 chance.

Federer is the fourth choice at $11 but feels he is in good shape heading into the Australian Open, where he was beaten in the fourth round by Stefanos Tsitsipas last year.

“I think the Australian Open always creates great stories,” he said. “There are surprises as well and then there are always the logical favourites and I think it is going to be a good Australian Open.

“I hope I can put myself in a position where I am also going to be fighting for the tournament. I have trained long and hard again in the off-season and I didn’t have any setbacks, which is crucial.”

Federer received criticism from teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg for his involvement with Credit Suisse. He did not respond directly to that issue in a statement but said he takes the issue of climate change seriously.

Federer, who has been coached by Australians Peter Carter and Tony Roche, will be a star attraction in the Rally for Relief on Wednesday to raise funds for bushfire victims and plans to make further donations.

“This country has given me everything and more in the past, so I am only too happy to help out,” he said.