Funny - Australian open 2012

NISHIKORI'S DAVIS CUP HOMECOMING

When Japan made its last appearance in the Davis Cup World Group back in 1985, Kei Nishikori hadn’t even been born yet.

Beginning Friday in Hyogo, hopes will rest on the 22 year old to lead Japan into the Davis Cup quarter-finals when they host 2005 champion Croatia.

“It’s always pressure, it’s a different feeling than other tournaments,” Nishikori admitted on Davis Cup Radio. “Hopefully I win two matches and I don’t know if I’m going to play doubles, but I think the team needs my two wins.”

The tie will be a homecoming for Nishikori, who plays his first match in Japan since becoming the country’s highest-ranked male player in the Open Era. He surpassed Shuzo Matsuoka’s rankings record of No. 46 in October, and continued his climb in the South African Airways ATP Rankings in 2012, breaking into the Top 20 following his run to the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Nishikori, who was just two years old when Matsuoka reached his career-high ranking, hoped his recent success would also inspire future generations. “Hopefully people, especially kids, start playing tennis,” he said during Melbourne. “But first of all I have to play well and I have to give them good news. If that helps Japan, I'm really happy.”

Japan finished runner-up to Australia in the 1921 Davis Cup final, but will be playing in the World Group for just the third time since the current Davis Cup format - featuring 16 nations in the top tier - was introduced in 1981.

The nation earned its place in the World Group with a 4-1 win over India in the playoffs last September, with Nishikori clinching the tie with victories in his two singles matches.

“It means a lot,” Nishikori said about Japan’s elevation. “That was my team’s first goal, to get in World Group, and we play in Japan against Croatia so I’m really excited to play at home. Hopefully we win.”

FEDERER EAGER TO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

In his last competitive match, World No. 3 Roger Federer left Rod Laver Arena with the disappointment of losing to Rafael Nadal in four sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open sitting heavily on his shoulders.

Two weeks on, the 30 year old has regrouped and is preparing to lead Switzerland’s bid to win the Davis Cup trophy for the first time. The Swiss are set to play the USA this weekend on an indoor clay-court in Fribourg in the World Group first round.

"I am in a good state mentally and physically. I have had a great run since last year’s US Open; I had not lost until the other week," said Federer, who closed the 2011 ATP World Tour season with 17 successive wins, culminating in victory at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (d. Tsonga) in London.

"It was a good period for me, and I hope I can get back in winning ways this weekend," continued the Basel native. "Here in Switzerland, it is nice we got home-court advantage, and we will try to make the best of it and see where it takes us."

Switzerland and the USA have clashed four times in the Davis Cup, with Federer contributing strongly to the European team’s only victory in 2001. The right-hander was playing in just his fifth Davis Cup tie and won both his singles rubbers and teamed with Lorenzo Manta for victory in the doubles as Switzerland triumphed 3-2.

"2001 was a big win for me and a tough tie within the team for Switzerland, but we came out on top," recalled Federer. "I think it was my first emotional outburst on a tennis court because I was so exhausted on Sunday after my singles, doubles and singles.

"It definitely got me on winning ways. I beat [Pete] Sampras at Wimbledon (in five sets). It was the start of great things for me, and I am happy to be playing in a tie again."

AMERICANS RELISHING FEDERER CHALLENGE

The USA begins its campaign to win a 33rd Davis Cup title with a testing first-round clash away to Switzerland this weekend, and it’s a challenge that both Mardy Fish and John Isner are relishing. The Americans will be faced with World No. 3 Roger Federer and No. 28 Stanislas Wawrinka on a specially laid clay-court in Fribourg, Switzerland.

Discussing the challenge of playing 2009 Roland Garros champion Federer, World No. 8 Fish commented, "He has been the second best clay-court player in a while for sure. For a bunch of years, he has been head and shoulders the second best player behind Rafa [Nadal] and has beaten him on clay. Clay is obviously one of his strengths. This surface, this altitude and these balls will certainly play a little faster and hoefully help us."

The No. 1 American is coming off a second-round loss to Alejandro Falla at the Australian Open and has just two matches under his belt this season as he prepares to play his 11th Davis Cup tie. "Any time you start with a Slam, you are going to want to perform well there. I didn’t play well down there, and I am excited to get back on the court again. I’ve got to get back on the horse, try to win some matches. There is no better place to do it than here."

World No. 17 Isner reached the third round in Melbourne, losing in five sets to Feliciano Lopez, and is set to represent the USA for just the fourth time. In his last appearance, he helped his nation to a first-round win away to Chile on clay in Santiago last year.

"Any time you are playing against a team that has Roger as part of the squad, it is going to be tough, and we are not playing at home," said the 26-year-old Isner. "But we are definitely capable of coming out here, playing well and coming out with a win. That is why we travelled all this way. We certainly have our work cut out for us. It is not the easiest match, for sure, but we are looking forward to it, and we are all going to take the court confident and see what we can do."

DJOKOVIC: 'I DARE TO DREAM'

Novak Djokovic, the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, is eyeing another record-breaking season.

Speaking at Westminster Hall in London, on Monday night, the World No. 1 said, "I will try to set up my form for Roland Garros first of all, where I want to get the title and go all the way through. Then I'll start thinking about Wimbledon and the Olympics."

Djokovic will be looking to lift his firstRoland Garros trophy in June and become the eighth man in tennis history to clinch a career Grand Slam of all four major championship titles.

The 24-year-old Serbian believes he can win in Paris and then land a gold medal at the Olympic Games tennis event, which will be held at the All England Club, Wimbledon, from 28 July to 5 August.

"Why not both?" Djokovic asked. "I've learnt how to handle my schedule, how to handle myself on and off the court and to prepare for the biggest events. That is going to be the case this year. I have to stay optimistic, believe in what I can do, believe in my abilities and believe that I can win on all surfaces.

"I have proven on numerous occasions that I can really be one of the candidates to win every Grand Slam on every surface. I need to keep that up. Roland Garros is the one to win this year."

Djokovic beat Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, sprinter Usain Bolt, Tour de France cycling champion Cadel Evans, NBA basketball star Dirk Nowitzki and Barcelona football player Lionel Messi to the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.

"I dare to dream of becoming the best player. Now I have this special award and I think everything is possible," he said. "Serbia is a small and beautiful country, but also very poor. It has a lot of troubles and wars in the last 20 years. I hope each and every one in the world could dream."

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who lost to Djokovic in last year's Wimbledon, US Open and recent Australian Open finals, is the reigning Olympic champion. The Spaniard beat Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 in the 2008 final at Beijing.

Roger Federer won four straight Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards between 2005-2008. Nadal received the 2011 award.