Federer ready for Aussie Open

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Roger Federer is putting his name on his apparel just as he hopes to put his stamp on the Australian Open with a third straight title.

Given his penchant for perfection and fashion, it seemed symbolic Sunday when Federer pulled a hat trick of sorts.

On the eve of the tournament, the world's top-ranked player wore a black ball cap emblazoned with a stylized version of his initials during his first public appearance at Melbourne Park.

Federer, who figured in the last 10 Grand Slam finals and won eight of them, comes into the season's first major without a competitive match in two months after withdrawing from his regular tuneup event at Kooyong because of a stomach virus.

The first order of business Sunday was quashing any suggestion that the week he spent getting rid of the bug upset his preparations to win his 13th Grand Slam title and move within one of Pete Sampras' all-time record.

"It's been some sort of a different preparation to some other Grand Slams," he said of a buildup restricted to hitting with Swiss Davis Cup captain Serevin Luethi.

"It's always tough in Australia because you don't have many matches coming in, but I'm very much used to it -- not playing for four to six weeks and then coming in and playing a big tournament.

"So for me, it's not much of a change."

Just to be clear, he reiterated: "Physically I'm fine now, no more issues. I would consider myself 100 percent."

He is cautious, however, having lost six times in the first round of a major -- though not since he took over the No. 1 ranking in February 2004. He requested and received a Tuesday start against 107th-ranked Diego Hartfield of Argentina to get some extra practice on the new, blue Plexicushion surface.

"I know the difficulties of a first round. They're never easy, no matter how you enter, with full confidence or little," he said.