Fatherhood won`t affect focus: Federer

Swiss superman Roger Federer is confident fatherhood won't be his career kryptonite
as he goes into his first Australian Open as a dad.
The world No.1 has wife Mirka and six-month-old daughters Myla and Charlene in tow
at Melbourne Park as he attempts to add to his record 15 grand slam triumphs at a
tournament he has already won three times.
But not for the first time, Federer will have to rewrite history if he wants to
continue his grand slam winning ways.
Only eight players have won grand slam singles titles after becoming fathers; only
American Jimmy Connors managed the feat more than once.
Federer is confident it will be business as usual when he kicks off his Open
campaign against Russian Igor Andreev despite the pressures and different
preparation that fatherhood will entail.
"There's always going to be speculation once you have a family, you look at history
and see some players don't win when they have a family," Federer said.
"The hunger's still there - I'm working as hard as I have been, I haven't just been
babysitting.
"I've been putting in the big hours and I feel my game's where it's supposed to be."
Former world No.1 John McEnroe is among those who believe Federer the father is
facing one of his biggest challenges going into 2010, with arch-rival Rafael Nadal
on the comeback trail from injury and a host of young guns chasing his crown.
McEnroe, a father of six, said: "There's no tougher opponent than kids.
"When you try to juggle that, try to spend the time necessary to be the best player
in the world and be a great father and husband, it gets more complicated.
"I'm not going to say that (it will be the start of Federer's decline) because Roger
loves the game so much - maybe he'll be different.
"I know from my own - when I had kids I thought I could handle both things.
"My first child was at 27, and I don't remember a whole lot of major wins from 27 on."
Federer and defending Open champion Nadal find themselves at Melbourne Park this
year in almost reversed roles from 12 months previously.
Federer was coming off a series of injuries and indifferent form going into the 2009
Open - this time it is Nadal.
A knee problem forced him out of Wimbledon last year after he was beaten on the red
clay at the French Open for the first time in 31 matches, while an abdominal injury
hampered him late in the year.
But Nadal, who takes on Australian Peter Luczak in his first round match, believes
he is fit enough to start firing immediately in the year's first grand slam.
"The only way to have confidence is to win matches, win important matches," Nadal said.
"I think I am really in the right way. I am ready to play my best tennis I think."
Federer and Nadal will lead a star-studded group of players at Melbourne Park on
Sunday afternoon in a fund-raising event for those affected by the Haiti earthquake.
They will join Novak Djokovic and women's stars Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and
Samantha Stosur in a series of exhibition and mixed doubles matches in the "Hit For
Haiti" aid effort.