Federer can win Australia Open – Nadal

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal insists Roger Federer can bounce back to his best next season, starting with the Australian Open ESPN reports.

Federer, 32, has accrued 17 grand slam titles throughout his career, and is considered by many as the greatest player of all time.

However he failed to reach a grand slam final for the first time since 2002 this year. Currently ranked at sixth, Federer still faces a fight to confirm his place at the ATP World Tour Finals.

Still, world No.1 Nadal, who won the French Open and US Open this year, believes rumours of Federer’s demise are greatly exaggerated.

“I don’t have any doubt that he will be playing better than what he did this year,” Nadal said at a press conference ahead of the Paris Masters.

“No doubt about that. His talent allows him to keep being one of the favourites, to keep winning the best tournaments of the year.

“His goal probably will be to finish the year well and be ready to start well in Australia next year.

“If that happens, he will be one of the candidates to win the first grand slam of the season. That’s something that really motivates him.

“I am sure that he’s not finished. He will work hard in the off-season to be ready for 2014. I am sure he will be back playing great tennis again.”

Federer has spent 302 weeks at No.1 in the past, though Nadal feels the Swiss will not be focused on reclaiming top spot.