World number seven Roger Federer enters the 2013 US Open Championships as an underdog, a role that everyone’s not accustomed in seeing him having. However, his lackluster performance this season saw his ranking slide to as low as number seven, the first in the last ten years. The Swiss superstar has never been seeded below the top three for so many years that seeing the number seven beside his name in the draw is rather surprising.
Despite this fact, the five-time US Open champion will be entering the final Grand Slam event of the season as one of the favorite, maybe not the strongest. However, his performance in his quarterfinal loss at the Cincinnati Masters to Rafael Nadal is an indication that he’s seeing a turnaround in his slump in the later months of the season.
“Clearly when I come here I don’t just look at trying to make quarters,” Federer said. “I’m here trying to win the tournament, but it starts at the very beginning and that is Monday I’m playing, I heard, so that’s really where the focus is right now.”
Federer only has one title to his name this season, at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle last June.
“It’s important that I concentrate on my game and that the passion is there, that I work the right way, that I’m prepared, and then that I feel like I can win a tournament,” Federer said. “(I) clearly want to move up from here. I only have the quarters to defend, so I hope I can add some points to the rankings.”
Federer will face Slovenian Grega Zemjla, ranked 61st in the world, in the opening round of the US Open which begins on Monday, August 26. The Swiss has won their past two meetings. Federer is projected to meet Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, a first at the US Open.
Don’t miss the US Open 2013 Tennis Championships by catching the action live via stable live video streaming HERE.
Watch US Open 2013 Championships Live Online Video Stream: Link
