2016 Brisbane International: Roger Federer ready to defend title

Roger Federer is ready to defend his title in this year’s edition of Brisbane International. This is the third straight year that Federer will kick off his season in the Australian City.

Federer finished as a runner-up to Lleyton Hewitt in 2014 after losing to the latter in a three-set final, 6-1 4-6 6-3. The 34-year-old returned to Brisbane last year where he clinched his 1,000^th match victory, beating Milos Raonic also in a thrilling three-set final, 6-4 6-7(2) 6-4. This season, Federer is looking to have another exciting year.

“I’ve been playing really well for a year and a half now since I came back from my back injury. That’s very encouraging,” Federer said in an interview as quoted in the official website of men’s tennis. “With age and experience, I know where I am and I feel like I’m in a good place. It’ll be an interesting year with a lot of young guys trying to make a move.”

Federer will begin his title defence against the winner of the match between German qualifier Tobias Kamke and Australian wild card Benjamin Mitchell, whom he has not played against in the past. Federer has already played Kamke, which took place in the clay courts of the 2012 French Open where he won, 6-2 7-5 6-3.

Potential matchups for Federer

A potential quarterfinal clash with Grigor Dimitrov or Gilles Simon and a potential semifinal clash with 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic loom for the 17-time grand slam champion. Should Federer progress in the finals, he could meet Raonic in a repeat of last year. The Canadian will begin his Brisbane campaign against either Ivan Dodig or Australia’s Oliver Anderson.