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January 4, 2008
Federer in town and on a mission
By Darren Walton, AAP
SYDNEY - World No.1 Roger Federer touched down in Australia
on Friday declaring himself hungry as ever to continue his seemingly
relentless march towards Pete Sampras's record 14 grand slam titles.
Still just 26, Federer is an odds-on favourite to complete an
Australian Open hat-trick at Melbourne Park this month and thus edge to
within one slam of Sampras's benchmark tally.
"I feel fresh, I feel fit, motivated and I think that's the key," the brilliant Swiss told FoxSports.
"I've been practising really hard when I come out on the court but what I enjoy most is competing.
"It's a thrill always when the year kicks off and after the Australian Open you have a lot of answers.
"If not, you can go to the practice court and go and get ready for the rest of the year."
In an ominous warning to his challengers, Federer said he would do
everything in his power in 2008 to improve his already imperious game
as he pursued not only Sampras's haul but also Olympic glory and an
elusive French Open crown.
"You can always work on the little things," he said.
"Honestly, in tennis you can never work hard enough because there's
movement, there's forehands, backhands, slice, topspin, coming to the
net ... I'd definitely like to improve my skills."
Of foremost importance to Federer is improving his net play, having
worked on that aspect of his game with his former Australian coach Tony
Roche.
"So that's something I'm definitely going to try to keep up," Federer said.
"It gives you great opportunities as well against all the baseline
players in the world today. You have an extra option. That's a good
thing.
"It's not so easy because players are really passing well, so you have to be a great athlete at the net.
"But I know I have those possibilities and if I could use those on
clay even more often, I think it will give me a great opportunity (to
win the French)."
Federer, though, insisted triumphing at Roland Garros and joining
Rod Laver and Andre Agassi as the only players in the professional era
to have completed a career grand slam was not his priority in 2008.
"I don't know if I would trade it off for the Wimbledon title, to be honest," he said.
"It was so special (last year) to equal the record of five (in a row) of Bjorn Borg. So that was great obviously.
"And it's an Olympic year as well, so let's not forget about that.
"I met (my girlfriend) Mirka here in 2000 at the Olympics in Sydney,
so it always remains a special memory for me - and carrying the flag in
Athens in 2004.
"So back in 2008, I'm really excited. So I don't know - French Open,
Olympics, Wimbledon, I've got a lot of things coming my way this year."
A winner of eight titles in 2007, including three majors and the
Tennis Masters Cup, Federer will once again open his new season at the
Kooyong Classic exhibition event from January 9-12.
The Dubai-based superstar said he knew little about the new
Plexicushion surface which have replaced the Rebound Ace courts at
Melbourne Park.
"That's why I'm arriving as early as possible, getting to know the
surface, getting to know the different climate again here ... getting
used to the heat again," he said.
"But the surface - quick or fast - as long as it's hard court, it's okay."
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