Australian Open countdown: Roger Federer
With the action down under starting on Monday, we profile second favourite Roger Federer.
Saturday 17 January 2015 16:14, UK
Roger Federer returns for his 16th Australian Open as the second favourite despite a nightmare draw.
The 33-year-old saw Andy Murray placed in his quarter in Friday’s draw, with perennial nemesis Rafael Nadal also in their half.
Federer may have finally regained a winning record against Murray thanks to three successive wins, but he trails Nadal 23-10, losing the last five and failing to beat the Spaniard in a Grand Slam since 2007.
It looks a virtually impossible task for Federer if Murray, Nadal and Djokovic are fit and in form but question marks over the latter two see Sky Bet make the 17-time Grand Slam second favourite at 6/1.
After his toils in 2013, Federer enjoyed a far better 2014, with the appointment of Stefan Edberg as coach and a new racket helping his cause.
Five titles were secured last year, including two Masters events, but another major title continues to elude him since his 2012 Wimbledon success.
He started the current campaign by winning the Brisbane International, dismissing two of the game’s rising stars, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic, in the process.
Melbourne Park record
Federer may be a four-time winner of the Australian Open but his recent appearances at Melbourne Park have ended in disappointment.
Four successive semi-final exits reflect the all-too-familiar story of falling short against his younger rivals, losing to Nadal in 2012 and 2014, Djokovic in 2011 and Murray in 2013.
Indeed, the Swiss star’s last triumph here came in 2010, when he avoided Nadal and Djokovic and overcame a pre-major winning Murray.
He had dominated the event between 2004 and 2007, winning three out of four titles and would have the second most wins behind Roy Emerson if he triumphs here again.
He said...
“I would hope that over the years I’ve improved,” Federer told the Australian Open website. “I think my backhand is working better than it has in the past as well. The question is confidence, forehand, movement.
“I feel I’m playing very well. If it’s the best ever, I’m not quite sure. But I’m definitely very pleased with how things have gone now the last six months.”
“Federer is second in our market but is some way behind odds-on favourite Djokovic.
“In recent years his price would have drifted significantly after such a tough draw, but doubts over Murray’s form and Nadal’s fitness make Federer our most likely winner from the second half.
“While the odds on the other two will significantly shorten if they successfully navigate the first week, Federer’s might even lengthen if all of the other seeds are still standing come the quarter-final.
“The physical challenge presented by Murray, Nadal and Djokovic would surely be too much, especially with the challenging conditions that the Australian weather typically throws up.
“The courts are slightly quicker this year apparently, which would certainly favour Federer and aid the chances of his main rivals suffering upsets.”
