Oz talk: Stop Federer if you can

He says that he has the mental toughness to take on all comers. Barring a seismic upset in the opening week, the 24-year-old is preparing for likely challenges from Lleyton Hewitt in a potential semi-final and either Andy Roddick or David Nalbandian in a possible final.

‘‘They’re all tough enough to play against,’’ Federer said. ‘‘Many of them are dangerous on the day. But over five sets, seven matches, it’s just hard to keep it up.’’

Second seeded Roddick, who has a wretched 10-1 losing record against the world number one, denied he was obsessed with beating Federer.

‘‘You think about it just because you’re trying to shoot for the best. Obviously, he’s established himself as that in the last couple of years,’’ Roddick said.

In the meanwhile, Lindsay Davenport can sniff an opportunity to win the Australian Open amid a tough battle field. Martina Hingis admitted to some pre-tournament nerves as she prepared to return to the Australian Open, the scene of some of her greatest triumphs.

The former world number one once dominated Melbourne Park, appearing in six consecutive Australian Open finals from 1997, winning three consecutive titles from 1997-99, before injury forced her into premature retirement in 2002. The Swiss first played in Melbourne as a brash teenager in 1995 and the tournament is an appropriate stage as she takes the biggest step of her comeback. “It feels different, definitely, to coming here playing in ’95 when I was 15, fearless.”

Clijsters in injury scare, doubts linger over Sharapova too

Kim Clijsters will need painkillers to play after problems with her injured hip surfaced on the eve of the first grand slam of 2006. “If it flares up again, that will be disappointing, of course. But hopefully it won’t,” she told on Sunday. Maria Sharapova is struggling with a shoulder problem before her opening round match against Sandra Kloesel on Monday while there are lingering doubts about the health of the Williams sisters.