Zee Media Bureau/Chaitan Papnai
Sydney: Roger Federer is certainly not among the top two contenders to win the on-going Australian Open, as those places are booked by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Even as the tournament has reached its quarter final stages the fact still remains the same.
But the way Federer has been playing in the first Grand Slam of the year, especially after his game against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round, one can easily predict that it`s going to be very difficult for his opponents now to get the better of him. He played like a true champion and thrashed tenth seeded Tsonga in straight sets 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. The 32-year-old, was at his clinical best in his match against the Frenchman. With that win, sixth seed Federer also equalled Jimmy Connors record of reaching 41st Grand Slam quarter-final.
Now Federer has to lock horns with fourth seeded Andy Murray in the quaterfinals. This match is going to be a thriller and if the Swiss managed to beat the Scott, it would be an alarm bell for the `top two title contenders`.
Federer`s form has certainly become a talking point at Melbourne Park. A man who is arguably the greatest player of all time and winner of record seventeen Grand Slam titles can be a tough opponent any day. And when he is at the top of his game, to beat him is like next to impossible -- his rivals are quite aware of this fact.
Now all the eyes would be on the high-profile quaterfinal clash between the FedEx and Murray, which might change the course of the tournament. And mind it! Federer is down but not out.
