The four-time champion hasn’t won at Melbourne Park since 2010 and after a disappointing 2013, in which he only reached one Grand Slam semi-final, he is seeded sixth for this year’s edition.
2013 was also just the second year in the last decade in which he didn’t win a major, with plenty of critics jumping on the notion that Federer’s best days are behind him.
That may well be true, but Federer is now the hunter, rather than the hunted.
Prior to the tournament he spoke about the release of pressure he feels with a lower seeding. After 63 straight games at Rod Laver Arena, Federer also faced the relative ignominy of having to play on HiSense Arena for the first time in a decade.
The draw may well be tougher for him and to reach the final he will now have to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal – that is, if the seeds keep on winning.
Today, back on centre court, Federer swatted away the challenge of Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili with the kind of swagger reminiscent of his golden days. Fully fit and with the expectations now on the likes of Murray, Nadal, and Djokovic, the Swiss maestro is certainly flying under the radar.
You’d be crazy to write him off – and you can bet the field will be wary any time they step on court with Federer. He’s into the second week and building up a head of steam – the Fed Express is certainly not running off the rails just yet.
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