Why Roger Federer has better Australian Open chance than Rafael Nadal - Boris Becker
ROGER FEDERER has a better chance of winning the Australian Open than rival Rafael Nadal, according to tennis legend Boris Becker.
Australian Open: Roger Federer is ‘confident’ in defending title
Federer is hunting a record-extending seventh Australian Open title in Melbourne next week.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic is the favourite to take home his 15th Grand Slam title.
But defending champion Federer is especially good on the hard courts Down Under.
And he is more likely to out-shine Nadal because of the Spaniard's recent injury woes, according to Becker.
"Well, with Federer it’s been the same thing for the past two or three years, but every year he comes back rejuvenated, comes back even stronger," Becker told Eurosport.
"I saw him in Perth and he still looks good, looks in great shape as well.
"With Nadal, probably more question marks, he hasn’t played for a while, he pulled out or Brisbane and he needs to be at 100 per cent in order to compete.
"So, with him, I want to see him play more, win a couple of matches and I’ll feel a lot better about his chances.
"But with Federer, I think as long as he enjoys it and he wants to be there, he’ll always be very good."
Nadal has been struggling with a spate of injuries over recent months.
The world No 2 claims he is now feeling "100 per cent fit" following successful surgery on an ankle problem.
And he gets his Australian Open campaign underway against James Duckworth, while Federer takes on Denis Istomin.
Roger Federer expected route to Australian Open final
R1 Denis Istomin
R2 Qualifier
R3 Gael Monfils
R4 Stefanos Tsitsipas
QF Marin Cilic
SF Rafael Nadal
F Novak Djokovic
Australian Open LIVE and exclusively on Eurosport and Eurosport Player from Monday.