Fit-Federer ready for another title shot

MELBOURNE, january 13: The hat trick was first and foremost when Roger Federer began his formal Australian Open commitments after a week recovering from illness. Wearing a stylised version of his initials on the front of his black cap, Federer made his first public appearance at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

Given his preference for perfection and penchant for fashion, it likely was no coincidence he chose to wear the new cap to coincide with his bid to win the Australian Open for the third straight year—a hat-trick in other parlance.

Federer has won 12 Grand Slam titles, two short of Pete Sampras’ all-time record, and figured in the last 10 finals — winning eight. But he goes into the season’s first major without a competitive match in two months because of a stomach virus.

He was fast to quash any suggestion that the bug upset his preparations as much as his stomach. “Physically I’m fine now, no more issues. I would consider myself 100 percent.”

Women’s champion Serena Williams will be first match on center court.

And two former women’s champions who weren’t in Melbourne last year when Serena Williams made her remarkable run to her eighth Grand Slam title are also in action on the opening day. No. 1 Justine Henin was dealing with a marriage breakup and skipped the last event, and Lindsay Davenport was pregnant with her first child and on a break from the tour.

Both come to Melbourne in sparkling form. Henin won the French and US Opens and the season-ending championship, then added the Sydney International title on Friday to enter the season’s first major on a 28-match winning streak. Her only loss in six months was against Marion Bartoli in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal is against Viktor Troicki of Serbia in the night match on center court.

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