Make or break year for Roger Federer

Serena eyes history as WTA Tour starts in Brisbane from December 29.

PARIS: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray open the 2014 season in Abu Dhabi on Thursday with Roger Federer hoping his absence is not an indicator of more misery ahead.

World number one Nadal provided the comeback story of 2013, winning 10 titles; including a record eighth French Open and a second US Open which took his majors haul to 13.

Djokovic defended his Australian Open crown while Murray claimed Britain’s first Wimbledon men’s’ title in 77 years.

But while the big three start their new campaigns with a leisurely three-day stroll in the Gulf, record 17-time major winner Federer begins his 17th season as a professional in Brisbane and with his career at crossroads.



In 2013, the world number six failed to reach a grand slam final for the first time since 2002 and his second-round defeat at Wimbledon ended his run of 36 consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearances.

His record against the sport’s big three also makes for worrying reading — he is 10-22 against Nadal, having lost all four matches against the great Spaniard this year, and 9-11 when up against Murray, losing their one clash in 2013.

He is still ahead in his rivalry with Djokovic at 16-15, but lost both their meetings this year while the Serb has taken six of their last eight matches.

The Swiss goes into 2014 having severed his ties with long-time coach Paul Annacone, one of a number of players to have tweaked their back-up teams over the winter.

“For me, it’s pretty simple: this is what I used to do as a little boy,” said Federer. “It’s something that is always there in your DNA.”

After Brisbane, where he is top seed, Federer heads for the Australian Open, a title he has captured on four occasions but where he has fallen in the semi-finals on his last three visits.

The WTA Tour starts in Brisbane and Auckland and will conclude with a new home in Singapore for the season-ending championships.

Serena hoping to continue impressive form

Six of the world’s top 10 will be in Brisbane led by defending champion Serena Williams.

The American will be 33 in 2014 but her rock-solid confidence and iron will are as intimidating as ever.

Serena ended 2013 with 11 titles while triumphs at the French and US Opens took her grand slam haul to 17.

Serena enjoyed a match record of 78 wins against just four defeats, claimed the season-ending WTA Championships title and became the oldest number one player.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2013.

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