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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Federer chasing slam in ‘07

John Pye Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia – All the brilliant numbers came down to one simple equation for Roger Federer: He was two sets short of a Grand Slam season.

Federer returns to Melbourne Park as the overwhelming favorite and defending Australian Open champion, one of three majors he won while compiling a 92-5 record.

Four of his losses were against second-ranked Rafael Nadal, including the French Open final when he won the first set before going down in four.

Federer was the first man since Rod Laver completed his second Grand Slam – winning all four majors – in 1969 to make the finals in all four majors in a single season.

But that was not quite good enough for the 25-year-old Swiss star. Federer skipped his regular season-opener at the Qatar Open, deciding he need a breather.

“You have to look at the big picture,” he said. “I wanted to have a life, you know, have Christmas and New Years’ and come here rested and not exhausted already.

“For me, it was most important to come to Melbourne in the mood to win the Australian Open, not come here and feel like it’s a pain.”

He did some work in Dubai, then arrived in Australia a week earlier than usual.

After a patchy first match back, coming within two points of defeat against Radek Stepanek, Federer advanced to the final of the Kooyong exhibition tournament with a convincing win over 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin.

He figures three matches is all the fine-tuning he needs.

“I’m probably playing again on Rod Laver Arena,” he said. “I play so well on that court, and with my experience and the way I finished the season and the way I’m coming into this – I don’t see why I should be vulnerable.”

Federer got no favors in the draw. His third- and fourth-round opponents could be U.S. Open semifinalist Mikhail Youzhny and former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, while last year’s surprise finalist, Marcos Baghdatis, looms as a quarterfinal rival.

While Federer’s domination is daunting for the other men on tour, there has been no equivalent figure on the women’s side since the demise of the Williams sisters.

U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova stepped into the top-seeded position after Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew from her Australian tour for undisclosed family reasons.

“I don’t see it as putting any extra pressure on me,” said Sharapova, who has made the semifinals or better at seven of the last 10 majors. “Whatever you are seeded, you’ve just got to go out and play your matches.”