Federer: Higher ranking no guarantee of success

Roger Federer believes that the depth in the men’s game means that, whatever his ranking, he will always have tough opening matches.

Federer, who has has jumped up to No.6 in the world (and could reach No.4 if results go his way at the Miami Open), accepts that a higher ranking will help him avoid the ‘big’ names, but knows that things can change quickly at the top of the men’s game.

“Our rankings system is quite interesting,” Federer said in an interview with the ATP. “Things can change very quickly. We saw how far Novak was ahead just eight months ago, and now all of a sudden he’s ranked number two and Murray goes on a 30 match winning streak. Other guys have not been playing and things move and then everyone is talking about world No.1 again.

“Rankings are good to me in that I don’t have to play the higher guys or the top guys early, like I had to do in Australia and at Indian Wells. Things will get easier from here on forwards.

“But nevertheless the depth in men’s tennis has become tougher so we will see what happens. It’s definitely interesting times right now.”

Federer has won two of the three events that he has played in 2017, his only exit coming in Dubai. He will face either Frances Tiafoe or Konstantin Kravchuk in his opening match at the Miami Open.