The 2018 Australian Open just started and, as always, day one marks a two-week journey that will culminate with a single winner. For men's tennis, 2018 AO stands as a great opportunity to assess the balance of power and, possibly, its future trajectory. Last year's edition titlist Roger Federer leads an extremely interesting side of the draw while the current world No. 1 and 2017 runner-up Rafael Nadal seems to have picked an easier route on the other side.
Seeded second in Melbourne, Roger Federer seeks yet another improbable win at the Aussie Open.
If he reigns supreme in Melbourne for the sixth time ( it would put him in the same box with Djokovic who has also earned six different distinctions in Melbourne), the 36-year-old Swiss wizard will reach the 20th Grand Slam milestone in singles. Despite his favorite status, some still find this scenario very unlikely, Roger Federer himself declaring that it's alright to have a 36-year-old player in the favorite box at a Grand Slam.
A lot of traps and tricky players stand in-between Federer and another Aussie success
Seeded second for the first Grand Slam of the year, Roger Federer shares a difficult draw. He would have to consider the possibility of facing two former Aussie titlists en route to another final as Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are making their official comeback at this event.
Moreover, the field includes young stars like Alexander Zverev or Dominic Thiem. To make his task even harder, Federer's quarter of the draw has Milos Raonic, Juan Martin del Potro, Sam Querrey or David Goffin as possible threats.
Roger Federer will play in tomorrow's session and will kick off his 2018 Aussie Open campaign against Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia.
It's going to be their first clash on an ATP level match.
Roger Federer faces an impossible draw
Day one in Melbourne had Nadal leading the pack as the upper half of the draw was scheduled for play. The Spaniard breezed past the opening match and the future looks bright for him. Those who would've had a chance to beat Rafael Nadal are having a tough time in Australia.
Jack Sock, John Isner, Kevin Anderson and Lucas Pouille all felt from grace in the first-round flurry of upsets which increases Nadal's chances to reach the higher stages without putting up a single real fight.
For Federer, things are completely different. Although it would be great to have him on top of the contest, at the time, it seems like a wild dream. But, the same speech went for 2017 edition with Federer facing a hellish path. In the end, against all odds, he prevailed in that epic final over Nadal.
