Roger Federer remains unconcerned about starting the Australian Open against Benoit Paire without the benefit of a tune-up match, It’s all part of the master plan for the Swiss, who has spent the last weeks tuning his game privately after his precedent-breaking tour of South America in December.
“It’s been very relaxing, the last few one and a half months,” said the 31-year-old. “Just focusing on getting ready mentally and physically really. Obviously, I went to South America, played some matches there which was good for me, because I didn’t play any tournaments leading up to this event.”
The Swiss, second seed behind holder Novak Djokovic, added: “Now I feel fine. I arrived really early, two, three days earlier than in the past. I feel like I have an extra two, three days of a cushion, which is honestly good to have before a Slam sometimes.”
Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray figure as trophy favorities as the injury and illness absence of Rafael Nadal drags into a seventh month.
Federer said that matches or no matches, his preparation will certainly not suffer. “I’ve done it many different ways. I’ve taken chances after Wimbledon only playing one event leading into the US Open, risking a first round loss. Very often I did go on and play well because I was well prepared.
“Here, I purposely didn’t play a lead up tournament so that I’d be fresh for the beginning, hopefully going deep into the tournament. That’s the goal obviously.
“It’s nice sometimes doing it slightly different than every year the same thing. Otherwise it feels like a déjà vu and that’s not always a good thing.”
©Daily Tennis News Wire
Topics: Australian Open, Australian tennis news, Benoit Paire, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis News