Roger Federer has 'low expectations' at Australian Open

Roger Federer might have won 20 Grand Slams and six Australian Open titles but Swiss great Saturday insisted he h "low expectations" at first Major of season. 38-year-old crowd favourite has yet to play a competitive match this year, opting out of recent ATP Cup to spend more time with his family. team event in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney provided vak Djokovic and Rafael Nal with six high-intensity clashes heing into Melbourne Park, and Federer kws he has his back to wall.

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Federer has 'low expectations' at Australian Open

Seeded three, he has a tricky clash against 81st-ranked American Steve Johnson first up.

"I'm happy to be back in Australia. I'm happy to be playing here, of course, I love it," said Federer, who has returned for a 21st Australian Open campaign.

"Look, it's a tricky situation right w playing somebody who has just played a lot this week. He's rey to go. He's match-rey and I'm t," he ded of Johnson.

"I got to really make sure I get out of gates quick." Despite his Federer won four singles titles last year, but he failed to d ar Grand Slam.

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His closest call came in Wimbledon final, where he lost a five-set epic to Djokovic, with his last success at Melbourne Park in 2018. In contrast, his great rivals Djokovic and Nal won two apiece last year, with Spaniard moving within one Slam title of Federer's record 20. Swiss star said off-season h gone well but he needed to get matches under his belt.

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"I've h plenty of time to pace myself and do all things I h to do to get rey. I hope it's eugh," he said.

"I kw it's a super-long ro to victory. That's why I got to take it one match at a time. My expectations are quite low.

"I'm excited to play Steve," he ded.

"He's a good guy. With his old-school playing -- big forehand, slice backhand, good serve -- I think it's going to be a nice match for me." 

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