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The six months off, however, appeared to be
positively cathartic as he provided arguably the major talking
point of the tennis circuit by reviving a career that pundits
thought could be over with the injury.
He beat Rafa Nadal in an epic final to win his fifth Australian
Open crown and then clinched his eighth on the grass courts of
southwest London to finish the year with seven titles and the
world number two ranking.
However, Federer, who begins his 2018 campaign at the combined
teams Hopman Cup tournament in Perth, recognizes that while
expectations this year might be a little higher, he was trying
to ensure they did not get out of control.
"Expectations are higher but at the same time I try to remind
myself just don't think its normal and realistic to aim for the
same things I did this year in 2017," he told reporters after he
arrived in Australia.
"I've got to try and keep it cool. Try my best and see what
happens but the preparation has been good so far.
"We'll see how things go."
Federer previously used the Kooyong invitational tournament to
warm up for the Australian Open but returned to the Hopman Cup
last year to team up with compatriot Belinda Bencic, where the
pair finished second in their group.
"Obviously looking ahead to Melbourne, I really hope that Hopman
Cup's going to give me everything I need here," Federer said of
starting the season in Perth, where he and his 20-year-old
partner will face Japan, Russia and the U.S. in group play.
"It worked out perfectly this year, (winning) at the Australian
Open.
"Of course, that's a good omen."
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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