Having cast aside a flu bug to thump German qualifier Tobias Kamke in his first outing of 2016, Roger Federer will gain a better insight into where his game is at when he meets highly regarded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov tonight.
Federer met Dimitrov in the semifinal of the Brisbane International last year, sounding his intent in a clinical 6-2, 6-2 dismissal, but said he expected a tougher match 12 months on.
“It’s earlier in the tournament. OK, maybe just one round earlier, but it’s been a rocky last couple of days,” he said.
“Don’t quite know what to expect quite yet. Plus (last night) was thankfully short, but also doesn’t give me as much information as where my game is at.
“In practice in December it’s been great. I have been hitting the ball well. I am where I want to be. Then again, (on Friday) we’ll see.”
Former world No.8 Dimitrov battled for nearly three hours to see off Serb Viktor Troicki 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-2 to book his place in the quarters. He had opened his Brisbane campaign with a first win in five attempts against fifth seed Gilles Simon.
“He’s had a tough grind … but he’s extremely match tough. I expect him to be fresh again,” Federer said.
“I played him quite aggressive last year and that worked well. We’ll see if I’ll do the same again.”
Federer is yet to drop a set in three meetings with his 25-year-old opponent, a player whose free-flowing game has long drawn comparisons to the Swiss great’s.
Dimitrov, a finalist here in 2013, is aiming for his third semifinal in four years and desperate to regain the 2014 form in which he won three ATP World Tour titles and broke into the world’s top 10.
“The most important thing for me right now is to focus on myself and the game and just try to put my game the way I want it,” Dimitrov said of the impending clash. “You know, structure it what I’ve been practising, working on, and if he comes up with the goods, that’s fine.”
The Bulgarian, whose best result at a slam remains his 2014 run to the Wimbledon semifinals paid tribute to the achievements of his 34-year-old opponent.
“The results speak for themselves,” he said. “Everything is just said and done out there and he’s still one of the best competitors out there. I mean, the greatest player out there.
“I’m sure there is still a lot to come. It’s just how it is. If you love the game and obviously you’ve achieved a lot, everything becomes pretty natural after that.”