Preview: Federer calm while Nadal has plenty to prove in New York

Aug 27, 2006, 2:53 GMT

New York - From his lofty position at the top of tennis, Roger Federer can gaze down on a scenario which he hopes will include a third consecutive title at the US Open.

'I even had a helicopter ride the other day, so I got to see the entire city from the top,' said the ice-calm world number 1, who begins his campaign to collect a New York hat-trick with a first-round match against 109th-ranked Yeu-Tzuoo Wang of Taiwan.

'That was exciting, I get around a lot here.'

While top rival Rafael Nadal attempts to gaining traction at a major where he has never done well, top seed Federer is relishing the chance to grab his third in a row.

For the Swiss, there seems to be even less pressure: 'It's easier to come back the third time, trying to defend a title.

'During the second time, you feel a lot of pressure, everybody's talking about you. By now I've gotten used to how to defend big tournaments.

'I don't look at it as a big pressure, I just try to prove to myself again that I can do it all over again.

'I played such a terrific final against Andre (Agassi) last year, you know, that really excited to be back and hopefully playing well again.'

Federer enters by his lofty standards with a ho-hum North American summer, winning Toronto but falling in the Cincinnati second round last week to rising Brit Andy Roddick.

But with thousands of points to hand and Nadal chasing at a safe distance, nothing is particularly bothering the king. 'I feel mentally fresh because I haven't played much since Wimbledon. But, physically, I feel fine, too. I have no injuries I need to tweak or anything. 'Things are looking good for a good start here to the Open,' he said with some satisfaction.

By contrast, second seed Nadal has something to prove - and it all starts with a first-rounder against former finalist Mark Philippoussis.

While the big Aussie has had his troubles over the past several seasons, with his ranking at one time sinking beyond the Top 200, the 1998 runner-up to Patrick Rafter now stands a somewhat respectable 113.

'I know if he is playing his best, it's gonna be very, very tough,' said Nadal of the former world number 8.

Spain's two-time Roland Garros champion called Flushing Meadows 'one of my special goals of the year.'

'I was playing bad the last two years (second and third round), so it's gonna be important for me, this tournament.

'I've worked a lot the last weeks to be prepared here. At the start of the season I was already thinking about this tournament. Last year I played my worst tournament in the year here, and this year I want to change that.'