Roger Federer is inching closer to surpassing world's no.1 Novak Djokovic in the ATP World ranking, after his latest victory at the Brisbane International catapulted him just 1,530 points behind the top-ranked Serbian.
The 33-year old Federer continues his remarkable ageing process, as he opened his 2015 campaign in an emphatic way, beating up-and-coming star Milos Raonic in a three-set thriller 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 to bag his 1000th career men's singles win along with the Brisbane International championship.
Now, the Swiss Master has shifted his focus on winning an elusive 18th Grand Slam in the first major tournament of the year: The Australian Open. But aside from silverware at the stake, Federer is also aware that a victoru in Melbourne will narrow the chasm that separates between him and Djokovic.
Federer, who last held the world's no.1 ranking in 2012, almost snatched the top ranking from Djokovic last year, but he just ran out of gas in the last tournaments, Paris Master and ATP World Tour Finals.
After a month of training and rehab, Federer feels rejuvenated again and ready to make another run for a Grand Slam championship along with the title as the world's best male tennis player.
"Yeah, I do believe that. Federer told the National about his chances in the upcoming Australian Open championships. "Then again, it's just talk. At the end of the day, I've got to do the running, I've got to do the clutch play when it matters the most."
According to Singaporean tennis site Tennis Tonic, Federer could be in position to dislodge Djokovic from the top spot by March if he manages to win the Australian Open.
By winning last year's Miami and Indian Wells Open, Djokovic has to defend a total of 2,000 ATP World ranking points for him to keep his position. Moreover, even if Federer fails to catch up Djokovic at that time, he still has plenty of chances to sneak in during the clay and grass-court seasons.
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