Federer happy for Nadal to be ’big news’
Roger Federer insists he is happy to fly under the radar at this year’s Australian Open with all the focus on Rafael Nadal’s attempt to claim his fourth successive grand slam crown.
While the Spaniard’s pursuit of what is being dubbed the ’Rafa Slam’ has captured the imagination, defending champion Federer is quietly plotting a way to capture a fifth title in Melbourne.
He warmed up with victory in Doha last week and claims to be in perfect shape, unlike Nadal, who has been battling illness, and remains unmoved that the world number one is currently capturing all the attention.
He said: “I don’t read much press, so I don’t know where the attention’s at right now. I hope it’s on him. He deserves it. He’s world number one, he’s going for four in a row.
“I always knew that was going to be big news, like it is big news that I’m the defending champion, that it’s big news to follow Sam Stosur, see (Juan Martin) Del Potro coming back. I know what makes headlines. I don’t necessarily need to go read it.”
