The Swiss Roger Federer, 36, said this Sunday that at his age he cannot be considered a favorite in a Grand Slam tournament, against players like Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic. However, he will be the one to defend the Australian Open title from Monday in Melbourne.
“With age I feel obliged to consider my options downwards, simply because I do not think that at 36 years old you can be a favorite in a tournament,” declared this Sunday the world number 2, who will play his 19th Australian Open, where he will be looking for his 20th Grand Slam title.
“I think that someone like Rafa, with the year that passed (2017) and Novak with his six titles here, although we do not know how he is physically, are the two favorites,” he stressed.
But after all they are just speculations. The pictures are always difficult “, sentenced.
After a 2016 year weighed down by injuries, Federer had a thrilling 2017 winning his fifth Australian Open and his eighth Wimbledon.
Federer, who will be ranked No. 1 in the world if he wins the tournament and Nadal falls before the quarter-finals, will make his debut in Melbourne against the Slovenian Aljaz Bedene (51st in the world).
“You can’t be a favorite at 36,” says Federer
