PERTH, Dec 29: The amazing Roger Federer will embark on his 21st professional season when he leads Switzerland in the mixed teams Hopman Cup starting here tomorrow.
The 36-year-old Swiss is coming off an extraordinary year where he took his majors tally to 19, with a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth Wimbledon.
Federer finished the year at number two in the world behind Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, having started at 16, after a season-leading seven titles, including three Masters at Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai.
It was a sensational season by any standards, but especially as Federer has been playing professional tennis since 1998 � a year when Bill Clinton was president of the United States, and James Cameron�s �Titanic� won 11 Oscars.
Federer will again partner Belinda Bencic at the Hopman Cup, his only event before launching his Australian Open title defence on January 15.
�It�s totally different this time around,� said Federer, whose appearance at the previous edition of the Hopman Cup followed a rare six-month absence as he recovered from injury.
�I had a great off-season. I mean, I did have a good off-season too last year but I just wasn�t sure what to expect.
�Now expectations are higher but at the same time I try to remind myself, �Just don�t think it�s normal and realistic to aim for the same things I did this year in 2017'.
�I�ve got to try and keep it cool, try my best and see what happens � but the preparation�s been good so far.�
Federer and Bencic teamed for the first time at last year�s Hopman Cup, only just missing out on sending Switzerland into the final.
Bencic missed five months of 2017 after undergoing wrist surgery. � AFP
