Roger Federer Taking The Contrarian Approach

Written by: Staff on 8th January 2013

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer in Singapore

Roger Federer Taking The Contrarian Approach

epa03523863 Swiss tennis player Roger Federer speaks during a press conference in Singapore, 04 January 2013. Federer stopped for promotional events in Singapore on his way to the Australian Open. EPA/STEPHEN MORRISON |

Roger Federer is taking a contrarian approach to the 2013 season, confident that he can make his start in search of a fifth Australian Open title without having played a run-up match. Federer got in his training, though, with a well-paid series of exhibitions last month in South America before resting and then resuming workouts in the heat of Dubai.

The start of the season’s first major on Monday will mark the second time (2008 was the other one) that Federer has hit Melbourne Park cold.

The 31-year-old Swiss remains quietly confident of his planning decision. “It’s a bit of a different preparation for the Australian Open this year but I’m confident I am mentally refreshed, which I am, and physically I am fine and that I will play a good Australian Open.

“I’ve been practicing really hard the last few weeks and didn’t play a leading up tournament this year just because I thought practise is very important for me coming up in the next year, year-and-a-half.”

With his eye on the long haul including a possible shot at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Federer is concentrating on the big picture. “I want to stay healthy and enjoy what I am doing, I want to have fun, I want to be excited and motivated coming back to the Tour.”

He added that retreating from tennis was a key part of the strategy. “I really need to get away from it all, which I have done for the last two or three weeks now after an incredible busy South American trip and an incredible busy year. It’s important for me to have the family time.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire