Here's some disconcerting news for the rest of men's tennis: Roger Federer is fit, fresh and working to improve his game in what could be a big 2008 for the Swiss star.
Federer arrived in Australia on Friday, five days ahead of an exhibition tournament he'll play in Melbourne, and just over a week away from defending his title at the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 14.
In addition to edging closer to Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles - Federer has 12 - Federer said he wants to win the one major that has eluded him - the French Open - and would like to take home gold from the Beijing Olympics.
Federer, 26, is favored to win his third Australian title in a row, moving him to within one of Sampras' Grand Slam tally.
"I feel fresh, I feel fit, motivated, and that's the key," Federer told FoxSports television. "I've been practicing really hard when I come out on the court but what I enjoy most is competing."
Federer said he trained hard in the offseason at his base in Dubai.
He stressed his play at the net.
"That's something I'm definitely going to try to keep up," Federer said. "It gives you great opportunities as well against all the baseline players in the world today. You have an extra option."
Winning the French and thereby completing a career Grand Slam - joining Rod Laver and Andre Agassi as the only men to do so in the Open era - was not his biggest priority.
"I don't know if I would trade it off for the Wimbledon title," Federer said. "It was so special (last year) to equal the record of five (in a row) of Bjorn Borg.
And more special to surpass it.
Federer won eight titles in 2007, including three majors and the Tennis Masters Cup. He begins play in the Kooyong Classic exhibition against seven other top players, including Andy Roddick, next Wednesday.
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