Im getting used to life as world No 2: Federer

Swiss ace Roger Federer previously chafed at the label world number two, but he said he was getting used to the idea after starting the Australian Open seeded second for the first time since 2004....

Swiss ace Roger Federer previously chafed at the label world number two, but he said he was getting used to the idea after starting the Australian Open seeded second for the first time since 2004.

Federer said he felt more relaxed and able to enjoy life without the pressure of being the worlds top player. Maybe Im a bit more relaxed. The times when youre number one in the world,you put your head down,you try to win as many tournaments as possible, he said. Maybe sometimes you forget to enjoy it as much as you can because everything happens so quickly.

Just two months ago,Federer said he was struggling to adapt to life as number two,especially when his name was announced before matches. It doesnt change a whole lot,I just dont like the ring of it when Im being introduced on Centre Court saying,and this is the number two in the world, he said in November. It just sounds wrong. Either Im number one or Im a Grand Slam champion,but Im not number two.

Now the 27-year-old is speaking of his joy at loafing around watching sunsets and movies with his girlfriend,Mirka Vavrinec,during a holiday in the off-season. Its a nice time to be number one in the world,having everybody talking about you. But Im getting older. Im enjoying myself more, Federer said.

I still love the traveling. I love competing out on centre court. Those are good feelings. Maybe just today or the last six months of last year,after having a tough year,sometimes you can show more because youve been through a tough time. I show a bit more emotion,a bit more happiness,which maybe people didnt see before.

He said he felt much better than before last years US Open,where he rescued a troubled season after losing his Wimbledon title and top ranking to Rafael Nadal and missing out at the Olympics against James Blake.

I feel better today just because Ive had a decent preparation. Wimbledon is long gone. I guess the Olympic match against Blake kind of hurt in the singles, he said. In his opening match late on Monday,Federer ran into unexpected resistance against Italys Andreas Seppi but still emerged a straight-sets winner.